Friends of Griffith Park, the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and the National Park Service will celebrate the 240th anniversary of the historic 1,200-mile Anza Expedition with an inaugural re-enactment horseback ride in Griffith Park on Saturday, May 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dozens of volunteer re-enactors in period costume, including many on horseback, will participate.

In fall 1775, a company of soldiers, their wives and children left present-day Arizona under the command of Capt. Juan Bautista de Anza. With more than 240 members, the expedition’s goal was to establish the Spanish empire’s northernmost settlement at San Francisco Bay.

In February 1776, the expedition reached El Rio de Los Angeles, camping near the site of present day Griffith Park. Continuing north, Anza’s party established San Jose and San Francisco, and created the foundation of modern California.

In 1990, Congress created the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail to honor the expedition’s legacy. The National Park Service oversees the trail, which runs 1,200 miles from Nogales, Arizona to the San Francisco Bay area. Since 2011, the Friends of Griffith Park organization has been involved in an initiative to enhance Griffith Park’s four-mile portion of the trail.

The reenactment will be held in Griffith Park’s Crystal Springs Picnic Area, 4730 Crystal Springs Drive. The free event also includes a heritage festival, historical cooking and cultural demonstrations, music and dance. Participants are encouraged to bring picnics, and refreshments will be available for purchase. For information, visit www.friendsofgriffithpark.org.