European discovery and exploration of the San Francisco Bay Area and its islands began in 1542 and culminated with the mapping of the bay in 1775.
Colonization, along with the conversion of the Indians, followed closely o the heels of exploration. Although San Carlos lies some distance from either the Mission Dolores in San Francisco or the Mission at Santa Clara the local inhabitants were undoubtedly affected by mission life, which brought increased travel by padres and lay people, and the presence of soldiers