Padre Francisco Garcés

Padre Francisco Tomás Garcés (April 12, 1738 – July 18, 1781), a Spanish Franciscan priest, was a missionary who explored much of the southwestern part of North America, including what is now Arizona and southern California. Father Garcés met with, and studied several Indian tribes in the area.

He was eventually killed in an uprising by the Yuma Indians at the newly established mission of La Purisima Concepcion, and later re-interred at San Pedro de Tubutama.

A statue of Father Garces can today be seen at the Traffic Circle on Chester Ave., Bakersfield.