BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Before there were highways, railways and canals, before Kern County was California's leader in oil production and an agricultural center, even before there was even a United States.

There were Spanish Explorers criss-crossing the Western United States and in 1772 the first non-Indian man to visit Kern County was the then Governor of Alta California, Pedro Fages, who in 1772 used Grapevine Canyon to head from San Diego to San Luis Obispo en route to Monterey.

But the real first explorer of the county, is a familiar name, Padre Francisco Garces, yes that Garces. The high school was named after him in 1947, but his major expedition in the county began in April 1776 and with the help of State Historical Landmarks, we can follow his 18th century travels today.

Garces was in search of the best route from Sonora, Mexico to Monterey, California and Garces' first stop in the San Joaquin Valley was along Bear Mountain Boulevard in Arvin.

In the shadow of St. Thomas the Apostle Church is a small memorial to Garces. It reads, in part, "This epic journey covered more than 2,000 miles of uncharted desert and wilderness, opening trails later to become highways and railways."

His next stop was north, where along Highway 178 between Commanche and Rancheria Roads, sits another State Historic Landmark highlighting his crossing of the Kern River on May 1, 1776, of course he named the river "Rio de San Felipe."

While we don't know the exact spot along the Kern River where Garces crossed, we do know where he went in 1776, north towards what is present day Woody.

Two days after crossing the river, Garces was about eight miles west of Woody along Highway 155 on May 3, 1776, when he baptized a dying Yokuts Indian boy.

But the landmark has clearly seen better days, as the plaque detailing the valley's first Christian Baptism is missing.

According to the State Office of Historic Preservation, it’s unfortunately all too common. Such markers are funded only by private means not the state and it could cost as much as $3,000 to replace.

From the aptly named Garces Highway our journey concludes at the most well known monument built in his honor.

The Garces Circle is the approximate site of a Yokuts Indian Rancheria Garces visited. A spot Garces named "San Miguel de Los Noches Por el Santa Principe."

While our journey lasted just a few hours, it took Garces about a week on this path to be the first to explore Kern County.

For more on the Office of Historic Preservation and how you can help fix the Garces Baptismal Site landmark go to the office's website: ohp.parks.ca.gov.

And if you know of any historical, interesting or bizarre places or things in Kern County you think ABC 23 should explore, let us know, e-mail Chris Van Horne at chris@turnto23.com