About the Exhibit

Beginning with the Spanish Missions that helped to establish the path known as “The Royal Road,” the exhibit describes the road’s origins and the impact these Missions had on the indigenous communities of the region. As the exhibit travels into the 1900s, visitors will learn about the women who worked tirelessly to establish El Camino Real as a historic California icon, placing the bells as symbolic markers of the era. Local residents will be able to reminisce about businesses and institutions that once lined the road, and look ahead at initiatives geared toward revitalizing it. Come see why El Camino Real is synonymous with California and its ever-changing story.