The Chumash Indian village of "Mishopshnow," discovered by Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo on August 14, 1542, was located one-fourth mile southwest of here. Fray Juan Crespi of the Gaspar de Portola expedition named it "San Roque" on August 17, 1769. Portola's soldiers, observing the Indians building wooden canoes, called the village "La Carpinteria" — The Carpenter Shop.