Inauguration of the Binational Historic Corridor

Inauguration of the Binational Historic Corridor
"El Camino Real Misionero de las Californias" on April 27, 1996.

A formal presentation of the colors of Mexico by mounted riders opened the ceremony at which representatives of local, state, and federal agencies in Mexico and the State of California met on April 27, 1996, in Baja California to sign a formal agreement to collaborate on the historic corridor "El Camino Real Misionero." The agreement culminated two years of discussion and informal negotiations between Centro INAH - Baja California, the regional branch of the federal preservation agency Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia (INAH) of Mexico, and the State Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) of the State of California.

Based on the successful project "Los Caminos del Rio" between Texas and Mexico, the new historic corridor is a model for the conservation of the historical, natural and cultural resources within a geographic region. "El Camino Real-Misionero" encompasses resources on both sides of the border from the historic Spanish and Mexican period of New Spain. Teresa Franco, Director General of INAH, represented the Government of Mexico while State Historic Preservation Officer Cherilyn Widell signed the agreement for California.

Unlike several other regions in the United States that were once part of New Spain and settled by European immigrants, early colonists in the Californias were primarily immigrants from Baja California and other areas that we know as Mexico. John Lungren, International Marketing Director from the Trade and Commerce Agency, delivered a greeting from the Governor's Office, which called upon all parties to recognize the broader community we live in-and the long history which we share.