Travel Oracles 50 States: California
As part of my summer series - Travel Oracles 50 States - I am revisiting each os the fifty American states as an overview on travel culture and history. Today: California
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Joined: California became the 31st state on September 9, 1850, having previously been a U.S. territory until 1847, as part of the treaty ending the Mexican-American War. As part of the Union in the civil war, there were no war battles fought within the state, but there are a number of Civil War sites in California including, forts, camps, and prisons used for Pro-Union state militias and the Union Army.
Original Indigenous Peoples: People have lived in what's now California and Baja California (a part of Mexico) for almost 20,000 years, and the state has the second-largest Native American population in the United States. The Northwest included the Tolowa, Shasta, Karok, Yurok Hupa Whilikut, Chilula, Chimarike and Wiyot tribes. The This Northeast included the Modoc, Achumawi, and Atsugewi tribes. Central California includes Bear River, Mattale, Lassick, Nogatl, Wintun, Yana, Yahi, Maidu, Wintun, Sinkyone, Wailaki, Kato, Yuki, Pomo, Lake Miwok, Wappo, Coast Miwok, Interior Miwok, Wappo, Coast Miwok, Interior Miwok, Monache, Yokuts, Costanoan, Esselen, Salinan and Tubatulabal tribes. Southern California tribes in this area are the Chumash, Alliklik, Kitanemuk, Serrano, Gabrielino Luiseno Cahuilla, and the Kumeyaay.
First Settlers: On September 28, 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and his crew (Spanish) entered San Diego Bay--the first Europeans to visit California. The land they named "Alta California" was occupied by diverse groups of native people who had inhabited the land for thousands of years. The first Spanish missionaries arrived in California in the 1700s, but California didn’t become a U.S. territory until 1847, as part of the treaty ending the Mexican-American War.
History moment: As a cultural beacon, there are too many to list, but a few include: Mexico ceded California to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican-American War, and it was officially annexed as a free, non-slave state in the Compromise of 1850. The California Gold Rush from 1848 to 1858, about 300,000 people flocked to the Western state and its mines. The major San Francisco earthquake of 1906 that left 3,000 people dead and destroyed more than 28,000 buildings. Hollywood History (first film completed in Hollywood was in 1908). The counterculture of the 1960s.
Known for: Tremendous geography (and earthquakes), the California gold rush, Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Disneyland, Wine Country, Surf Culture, Redwood and Sequoia forests, home state of former President’s Nixon (born) and Reagan (lived as previous actor), Cannabis legalization
Places: Big & Small - Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ojai, Palm Springs, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Big Sur, Monterey & Carmel, Napa Valley, Lake Arrowhead & Big Bear, and so much more
Movie setting: Too many to name, so just a few: Chinatown, American Graffiti, Sunset Boulevard, Vertigo, The Graduate, Escape from Alcatraz, Mulholland Drive, Boyz n the Hood, Sister Act, L.A. Confidential, L.A. Story, Fast times at Ridgemont high, Clueless, Social Network, Aviator, Lady Bird, Straight Outta Compton, La La Land, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Musicians: Too many to name, so just a few: Etta James, The Beach Boys, Ritchie Valens, The Mamas & Papas, The Grateful Dead, Randy Newman, Bonnie Raitt, The Doors, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck, Jeff Buckley, Courtney Love, Tom Waits, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish
Surprising facts: California has the most National Parks (9), the largest population of any state (Population: 39,613,493) AND the largest economy (it would currently be considered the 5th largest economy in the world, just as a single state!).
The Golden State is one of the country's wealthiest and most socially and politically influential. It draws people from around the world to its beautiful beach front to its glamorous movie making mecca. California's endless wonders, from Yosemite National Park to Disneyland, are both natural and man-made. Stunning wilderness often lies close to urbane civilization, with the iconic Big Sur coast, dramatic Mojave Desert, and majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, sunny California indulges those in search of great surfing, hiking, and golfing. Other pleasures await, too: superb food in San Francisco, studio tours in Los Angeles, winery visits and spas in Napa and Sonoma, beach picnics - live the California dream. Let’s travel to California
My experience: One of my home states, having spent time in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Palm Springs. I have also road tripped throughout the beautiful state many times to explore it’s incredible land and national parks - it is a must (I would also recommend hopping the Amtrak's California Zephyr between San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara). I have photographed and written about it extensively, so see my previous posts on the blog: Mountain Life (Lake Arrowhead & Big Bear), Big Sur/Monterey/Carmel, Palm Springs, Napa & Sonoma, Ojai, Santa Barbara, Old Spanish Days, Joshua Tree, San Diego, San Francisco, Hearst Castle & Cambria, LA Hotels, California Cool
Places: There is so much to be said about the many cities and towns of California, and you can see some of my previous write ups above, so for now I will just hyperlink some of the top stops to their tourism pages, including: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Encinitas, Palm Springs & Joshua Tree, San Francisco, Napa Valley
Nature: California is home to some of the nation's most beautiful landscapes and nine nation parks including Yosemite National Park, Joshua Tree Nation Park, Death Valley National Park, Redwood National Park, Sequoia Nation Park and more
Ranking in US: Per the annual US News report, California is currently ranked #24 out of 50 in 2021, down from #19 in 2019. California is one of the greatest states, but it faces many climate issues and lack of opportunity/income equality.
