Price Historical Park and the Chumash Native Americans 

By LaDean Talcott

Since the Chumash Native Americans did not have a written language, the first descriptions of them were not available until the Cabrillo expedition arrived in California in 1542. Other missionaries and explorers followed, each adding their own observations to the historical record.

Archeologists have found evidence of many ancient settlements throughout what is now Malibu in the south to San Luis Obispo in the north, suggesting that approximately 20,000 Chumash speaking peoples were living in this part of California for thousands of years.  

Picture is from a cave dwelling.

The Chumash are known to have created a special way of life along this south central coast of California. They are best known for their extraordinary craftsmanship, the invention and use of the plank canoe, complex villages and religious life.

Like most California Native Americans, the Chumash were a maritime culture known as hunters and gatherers, dependent for their food on the wild plants and animals native to this region. They did not plant crops nor raise domestic animals. Their canoes allowed them to travel up and down the coast to other villages, establishing an extensive trade network along the coast, assuring them of a wide variety of foods all year round.

Besides contact with Cabrillo, there were two other known Spanish contacts in 1587 and 1595.. The next visitor who wrote information about the Chumash was Sebastian Viscaino, who followed Cabrillo’s route in 1602. He reported the Chumash were very friendly.

Over the next 150 years, Spain set up a large empire in Mexico; the Russians and the English were establishing settlements to the north. The Spanish wanted control over Alta California (now California) to protect their trade route across the Pacific to the Philippine Islands.

In 1769, Gaspar de Portola led an expedition to establish settlements and missions in Alta California. During Portola’s travels he visited many Indian villages and reported the Chumash were especially friendly, giving the Spaniards gifts of baskets, seeds, fish, and acorns. Five missions were established in Chumash territory from 1772 to 1804. As these missions were established, the Chumash way of life was changed dramatically and quickly. Throughout this period of time,, the Chumash population dwindled rapidly.  

The Portola expedition of 1769 rode through the grounds that would later become Price Historical Park. They camped nearby, where they met Chief Buchón, a name given to him by the explorers. These same grounds were visited by the Anza Expedition on March 1, 1776, where part of their group set up camp close to where the Price House now stands.

Sources: Chumash History by Mati Waiya; California’s Chumash Indians: A Project of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Education Center; Diary of Gaspar De Portola During The California Expedition of 1769-1770, University of California, Berkeley, California.