Spanish history

Dear Editor:This is in reference to the question asked in the letter "Columbia Landing" submitted by Mr. David Abney last week. The name "Tierra Luna" is Spanish for "moon's soil." How did it come about? It comes from the rich Hispanic history and culture of California. In reading the history books on California, the first explorer in California was the Portuguese explorer Cabrillo in 1542. He landed in what is now San Diego bay. The Spanish colonial period of California stretched from 1769 to 1821. Mexico governed California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and parts of Wyoming and Colorado from 1821-1848. There lies the reasons for so many Spanish names in the southwestern United States. Using either Columbia Landing or Tierra Luna for the name of an unneeded mall in Downey is fine with me. Vince Diaz Downey

********** Published: February 21, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 45