California’s central coast was inhabited by
the Chumash Indians until 1769 when Don Gaspar de Portola traveled
through the area to establish new territory for the king of Spain
and begin to establish missions. Because of the abundance of bears
in the San Luis Obispo area, his troops named the area as llano do
los Osos, or the level of the bears, since then translated to La
Canada de los Osos – Canyon of the Bears.
