History of California

The history of California stands in great contrast to the history of the USA's Eastern lands. There was some Spanish Mission activity dating back for several hundred years, but Native Americans representing hundreds of different tribes and several language groups dominated the California scene until about 1849 when the Gold Rush to California's Gold Country near Sacramento changed California's future quickly and dramatically.

Few California miners ever struck it rich or even stayed in the West, but the huge influx of miners along with businesses to serve the mining communities turned forts into towns and towns into larger cities. Soon, California was a key destination for American's westward migration.


California History

California's Gold Country

California Travel

The California Kids Guide has some good California history links.

USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor

USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

The USS Arizona Memorial rests dramatically above the wreckage of the sunken battleship at Pearl Harbor. Inside is a memorial to the sailors lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor of December 7th, 1944 which began the US War with Japan. Germany declared war on the USA four days later.

The only access to the USS Arizona Memorial is by boat. Free tickets are available at the Pearl Harbor Museum which generally have you returning later in the day for the boat trip. Consider going early in the day to pick up your tickets and if there is a long wait for your boat you can take a shuttle to visit the USS Missouri which offers an excellent tour of the ship on which the US accepted the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II. As of December 2007 admission to the USS Missouri is $16 and a guided tour is an extra $7. The USS Missouri is well worth the price and the money goes to preserve the ship and provide interpretive services. You may want to eat lunch in the working galley.

Travel and History

Here at Online Highways / US History our mission is to bring travel and history information together. Our US History editors have assembled one of the best online resources for U.S. History anywhere. Our travel information is strongest for the Pacific Northwest but we feature city by city information for all of the USA, several countries in Europe, and even Uzbekistan, thanks to the contributions of our friend Marat who publishes that region's top travel magazine.

Travel and History are a natural combination, and for most cities the history of the community features prominently in their appeal. Here in the Pacific Northwest we enjoy the historical and cultural benefits of the rich and colorful Native American experience in the region as well as the powerfully American traditions of early miners, loggers, and seafarers.

There are stories of heroism, tragedy, hardship, and triumph, and we hope to share some of those with you in the coming months. Also, we'd love to hear from you with any historical notes of interest to tourists and travelers. Post them in the comments or email me personally at this address: jhunkins@gmail.com

Happy travels, and Happy history!

Virginia Frontier Fort circa 1755

Virginia Frontier Fort circa 1755
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

The Hupp Homestead, near Harrisonburg Virginia, was built about 1755. Stone houses like this have held up pretty well in the Shenandoah Valley over some 250 years of use during both the Revolutionary War and the US Civil War.

For more US History visit our main site U-S-History.com

Las Vegas History

Las Vegas - Fremont Street Experience

Freemont Street Light Show, Las Vegas
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

From the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip or the huge light show canopy over Fremont Street you'd hardly guess how humbly Las Vegas began. Originally Las Vegas was a dusty speck in the huge Nevada desert, but burst into prominence when gambling and drinking were offered here to serve the thousands of workers building the Grand Coolee dam - at the time one of the world's largest construction projects.

Weaverville CA Gold Stamping Mill

Weaverville CA Stamp Mill
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

Weaverville, California was home to a lot of gold miners back in the day, as the fast flowing rivers and streams of the gold-rich Trinity Alps gave up their bounty. More agressive mining techniques were used here at the stream behind the stamp mill, where "hydraulicking" water canons blasted aways tons of soil to uncover a the tiny flecks of gold dust that were then extracted via sluices.

Read more about the California Gold Rush at Online Highways.

Louisa May Alcott Home, Concord Mass

Louisa May Alcott Home, Concord Mass
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

Louisa May Alcott's father, Bronson Alcott, was an educational reformer who believed in a broad education for all, including girls. Here at the Alcott family home in Concord Lousia spent much of her time learning from some of the great minds of early America. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were among the network of American intellectuals that lived nearby.

Louisa penned "Little Women" in the upstairs room here.