Junipero Serra and 1776: The West and East Coasts

Explore two pivotal events that unfolded just one day apart in 1776—Thomas Jefferson's presentation of a draft of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia and Junípero Serra's founding of Mission Dolores in Spanish California—and how these parallel histories shaped the future of North America. Santa Clara University professors Robert Senkewicz and Rose Marie Beebe compare British and Spanish colonial systems, examining their differing approaches to governance, religion, and settlement, as well as their lasting impact on Native Peoples. The program ties to the Museum's current exhibition, The Spirit of '76: Reflecting on America's Bicentennial, on view through November 8.