13,000 years ago Chumash people flourished from Malibu to Paso Robles. The Chumash traveled the coast and to the Anacapa islands on plank canoe’s they had invented around 1500 years ago.
For 10,000 years the indigenous Chumash lived in this area uninterrupted. That changed when Spanish expeditions began arriving in California. In 1542, Juan Cabrillo, was the first explorer to chart upper California. More explorer’s, soldiers, and missionaries began to follow.
In 1700, according to the Triunfo canyon marker, Padre Crespi dubbed a village in our area, “El Triunfo del Dulcísimo Nombre de Jesús.” The name Triunfo remains familiar in our area today.
In 1803 the area from Newbury Park to Agoura was made a Spanish land grant named “El Rancho Conejo” and was deeded to Spanish Soldiers, Ygnacio Rodriguez and Jose Polanco.
What happens to the land next may surprise you! Are there darker days ahead for El Rancho Conejo?
Stay tuned for the next post in the History of Westlake Village, by the Singer Group.