SANTA CRUZ
Santa Cruz (holy cross), the well-known seaside resort lying at the northern hook of the great curve that forms Monterey Bay, was named by the Portolá expedition, as thus described by Father Crespi: “We camped on the north side of the river [San Lorenzo], and we had a great deal of work to cut down trees to open a little passage for our beasts.... Not far from the river we saw a fertile spot where the grass was not burnt, and it was a pleasure to see the pasture and the variety of herbs and rose-bushes of Castile.” The next day they moved on again, and the diary continues: “After proceeding about five hundred steps, we passed a large stream of running water, which has its source among some high hills and passes through some great table-lands of good soil, that may easily be irrigated by the waters of the said creek. This creek was named Santa Cruz.”
A mission was established at this place by Padres Salazar and López, September 25, 1791, but the buildings finally fell into a ruinous condition, and were removed to give place to the modern church which now stands upon the original site.