Late December and Early January in the Coachella Valley at La Quinta CA

Recently, we attended the annual Pow Wow hosted by the Warm Springs Tribe of the Mission Indians. The vendors, colorful costumes, drum music, and dancing were fascinating to watch. We learned a lot concerning the Pow Wow, Native Americans, and how important their history and culture is to the Native Americans.

 

With Christmas fast approaching, we have experienced some Christmas-spirit, enhancing opportunities and events, which have enriched our Christmas spirit.

We cruised the elite El Paseo Drive shopping district with the marvelous Christmas lights and decorations. The Palm Desert St’ Margaret Episcopal Church Christmas Program, in their beautiful sanctuary was an excellent musical and narration of the Christmas story. Also, the California State University/San Bernardino Campus hosted a Musical Improvisation by John Bayless with some Christmas music, in their Indian Wells Theater. A very talented pianist, composer, and recording artist, John communicates his love of music through his gift/ability in Improvisational Music, merging classic and secular pieces.

History has always been interesting and I have continuously sought it out wherever I found myself. As they say, “fact is stranger than fiction”, and history has loads of fascinating facts. Having traveled in all 50 States, I find California’s history the most convoluted and providential history of any State that I have studied. California seems to have been somehow destined to become the 31^st state of the Union, in 1850. It could have gone to other countries but circumstances made it American with many resilient, captivating people from back-east, orchestrating those circumstances. Many are the subject of permanent memorials and monuments around California, recognizing and honoring their contributions to the history of the state. I will go out of my way to see these tributes, as I enjoy studying and re-living their experiences.

                                                                                                                           

Here are some names/personalities that captivated me, and my impression of some interesting historical events;

Portola

Cortez

Cabrillo

California Missions

Drake

Vizcaino

Jedidiah Smith

VP John C. Calhoun

Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton

Jesse Benton Fremont

John Charles Fremont

Gwin of Mississippi

Judge Terry

Senator Broderick

The earliest Spanish Europeans came by ship along the coast and bays, then Portola’s overland explorations discovered the great inland valleys but no significant success in agriculture and commerce was readily accomplished. Simultaneously, Mountain Men from the Fur Trading companies were trekking the mountains and valleys with short-term goals as well.   

Later, with the Spanish exploring and establishing Missions in Alta California, in order to claim and settle Alta California, it was obvious that Baja California, Mexico, and Spain were much too distant to support the new Mission settlements. The Missions were successful in training the Indians (Catholic converts) to become vaqueros, hide and tallow processors, and ranch workers, which inadvertently invited trade along the coast, from other countries. Consequently, Mexico’s 1821 Independence from Spain led to the abolishment and subdivision of the burgeoning, former Missions lands, into Mexican land-grants (ranchos).

Next comes friends and relatives of the Mexican governors of Alta California, seeking those huge land grants. Well, needless to say that some enterprising Americans, like the famous Louis Rubidoux, obtained land grants from the Mexican governors, by becoming Mexican citizens AND even marrying Mexican senoritas. However, it was not to last, as hostilities and war led to the Alta California becoming an 1848 US Territory.

Needless to say, the Mexican expatriates quickly joined the Americans! Then comes Marshalls discovery of that gold nugget at Sutter’s Mill and the race was on! People came from all quarters.

Easterners had three options; travel overland, sail around the Horn, or sail to Panama, cross the Isthmus, and then sail on to San Francisco. Not all Americans went to mine gold nuggets. People like Mississippi’s William McKendree Gwin, New York City’s David Broderick, and Missouri’s Jessie Benton Fremont (Mrs, John C. Fremont) were heading to California with politics in mind. In fact, aboard the Panama, Aspinwall’s US Mail steamer, sailing on May 18, 1848, were these three, along with two future governors, three future senators, two future congressmen, two future state Supreme Court justices, seven future generals, an admiral, two future ambassadors, and one potential first lady. These people were public servants in California following the 1850 admission of California as an undivided, free state. The slavery issue continued with Judge Terry killing Senator Broderick in a duel behind the barn at Lake Merced, but the slavery issue was finally laid to rest. Denying the expansion of slavery to the Pacific Coast moved the south into a collision course with the Union and the Civil War.

I’m continuing to enjoy the terrific writers and books on California history. This, along with the people that we meet and work with make our travels exciting. It’s amazing how the County employees can do so much with so little. The Parks and Recreation folks are dedicated to serving the public but they get lots of criticism with little thanks. It would be an exciting challenge to work in all 3,152 US Counties because they are all special places and exceptional people.

I am momentously enjoying the La Quinta Library and the history of California. My ancestor, Joseph Adams Hall, arrived in San Francisco in July 1851 and died there, one month later, in August 1851. His Pike County Mississippi family never saw him again.

It seems to me that the majority of present-day families probably have some connection to California and “California cousins”.

Please let me know about any connection that your ancestors had to California?

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Yesterday, we visited the General Patton Museum and toured the Joshua Tree National Park. It was windy and cold but we had a “blast”.

The Patton Museum commemorates the WW II Desert Training Center which prepared troops for the invasion of North Africa. Over a million trained here Patton.

In Joshua Tree National Park, you can easily observe the intersection of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. The Mojave is high elevation and the Sonoran is low elevation, each with unique flora, fauna, and geology. The Joshua trees (Yucca variety) are found only in the Mojave, growing approximately 1-inch per year to a maximum height of roughly 40-feet. This is a park that is well worth the effort to visit!

Today, we shopped and did chores. The weather has warmed and I wore short and tee-shirt today. Great Christmas weather in Southern California!

12-30-15

We visited Sister Rose in LA and enjoyed a delightful time. Visiting at her hotel at the Woodland Hills Warner Center, in the San Fernando Valley, we caught-up on news and events from Mississippi and made plans to meet-up around her LA Tour schedule.

On Wednesday, Terry and I drove to Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Marina Del Rey, and then up to Pasadena.

The ocean views and landscaping along Santa Monica cliffs and the beach were splendid on a beautiful, sunny day, and the Santa Monica Pier was alive with a carnival atmosphere. We enjoyed walking the Park pathway along the ocean-front.

The Venice Beach Boardwalk was an eclectic mix of all the lifestyles (colorful characters) in LA. With no rules and sunshine all day, Venice Beach is nothing but fun!

Marina Del Rey was so impressive with the luxurious yachts and the restaurants, shops and marinas along the basin. This waterfront resort promises fun in the sun with tranquility. We walked some of the Quays, admiring the beautiful boats, and enjoying the morning sun shining through the trees.

Driving up to Pasadena on the 110, we were attracted to the Arroyo Seco Park and decided to spend some time in the park, following our visit to Pasadena.

The Rose Bowl festivities attracted very large crowds and seeing the process in-the-works was very interesting. We had dinner with Rose at a Ventura Blvd restaurant which was just right for a pleasurable dinner and visit.

On Thursday, we drove around the Beverly Hills neighborhood and cruised Rodeo Drive. Taking Sunset Blvd. over to Hollywood, we saw the Grauman’s TCL Chinese Theater with the walk-of-stars. European-influenced art mingles with classic film memorabilia and gaudy glitz. I was reminded of Woody Allen’s statement; “In Hollywood, they don’t throw out their trash, they make television programs from it”. On New Year’s Eve, it was packed with tourists from around the world.

We enjoyed some of the numerous, very nice parks around LA and met and talked to lots of friendly, engaging LA locals. It was a terrific visit in LA and we wanted to stay longer!