Vizcaino spent a good deal of time in Mexico seeking his fortune there
first, before giving up and expanding his search further north into
lower California in 1596.
In 1602-1603, Vizcaino explored and surveyed the Pacific coast north of
Cape Mendocino. He discovered and named Monterrey Bay along the way, and
sent a vessel to the mouth of the Columbia River at the northern tip of
Oregon.
Although Vizcaino was not the first one to explore California,
he did offer detailed information of the area that was not improved upon
for more than 150 years. From 1611 to 1614, Vizcaino sailed to the
Orient, taking missionaries to the Philippines and trying, without
success, to establish trade with Japan.
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