Voyages of the San Salvador - Cabrillo’s Journey follows the 1542 expedition led by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo on a journey to find a route to China to trade for valuable spices. The film explores the motivation behind this incredible risk and the lasting effects European exploration has had on the native Kumeyaay people. This expedition marked the first European landing on what is now the west coast of the United States.
Filmed on the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s replica of the San Salvador, and with the use of interviews, the movie allows viewers to experience what life was like during the Age of Exploration. While Cabrillo’s expedition never found a route to China, Cabrillo and the San Salvador play a significant role in California history.