In this episode we start Chapter 1, staying firmly within the 1500s. Bancroft summarizes the imperial politics of the pre-Mexico conquistadors and offers a play-by-play account of the missions and establishments that finally lead to the first European encounter encounters with today’s California.

From the public domain, we’re bringing Hubert Howe Bancroft’s great work to the 21st century.

Though just a wee bit of time in California, this man quite literally paved the way for the mission system by developing routes, maps, and relationships among native groups throughout the Pimería and modern Southwestern US.

Enjoy this brief summary of the political structure of the first “unification” of California. Take careful notes! Because we’ll be exploring (pun intended) a lot of themes, names, and history mentioned in this episode. Everything from the public domain: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alta_california

In this episode we’ll read from the wiki pages of the first European explorers, and dare I say... PIRATES?!...of California

That’s right, ye ol scalliwags. We are walking the plank right into some of the first written accounts of California.

But more prescient in this episode compared to those perhaps in the future is the strong ties between California History and World History.

The three explorers we cover today, have literally sailed the world, so we’ll get a good background on who they were, where they came from, and how they influenced cultures in many different regions and realms.

Without further ado, here are the stories of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, el Draco himself—Sir Francis Drake, and Sebastian Vizcaino.

Quick disclaimer and acknowledgment of racial bias in the story of early California, the curator’s background, and therefore this podcast. It feels right to address this before we jump into some heavy topics of displacement, violence, and genocide.

The geology, ecology, hydrology, and—of course—history of the one and only Range of Light. The Sierra’s full Wikipedia profile transcribed specially for your ears.

From Dunbar to Daggett, John Muir changed the conversation about conservation. Numerous natural wonders, preservation societies, and protected lands serve as commemorative thank yous to the work he accomplished in the late 1800s and early 20th century. Enjoy this meandering history of the mythical prophet, John Muir.

Bob Marley knew there was a story to tell with these intrepid soldiers who help shaped the landscape of not just our nation’s military history, but our national parks as well. Enjoy!

What’s not to love about Yosemite? Well, maybe the Mariposa Wars, the damming of Hetch Hetchy, and the eviction of the native people from the Valley in the 1960s... Other than that, enjoy!