Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo was the first European to explore the Pacific Coast of the United States, landing in present-day California in 1542.

Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer sailing under the Spanish flag, embarked on a voyage to explore the western coast of North America. In 1542, he became the first European to set foot in what is now California when he arrived in San Diego Bay. The foundation for later Spanish claims and colonies in the area was laid by Cabrillo's voyage, which signaled the start of European exploration and charting of the Pacific Coast.