SPANISH EXPLORATION
Beginning in 1791, several expeditions from the Mexican vice-regal colony of Spain arrived in the area. The Santa Saturnina, a Spanish sloop commanded by Jose Narvaez was the first known European ship to round East Point and to visit what is now the Georgia Strait part of the Salish Sea, and “Punta de Langara”, now known as Vancouver. See these display panels below and visit these links.