Santa Monica City Map Poster

About Santa Monica

The area was home to the Tongva-Gabrieliño Native Americans for thousands of years before the arrival of Spanish explorers. A Gabrielino settlement in the area was called "Iyáangẚ" (written Yang-na by early Spanish missionaries, and pronounced "Jeaangue" or "Xayangeh"). The first non-native to visit Santa Monica Bay is believed to have been Portuguese explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who claimed all territory north of Point Conception for Spain in 1542. In 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno surveyed and mapped the California coast. On August 4, 1603, Gaspar de Portolà established a camp near present day San Pedro and proclaimed La Sierva de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles ("Our Lady Queen of Angels"), which became shortened over time to Los Angeles .