{"id":2653,"date":"2024-12-20T19:19:15","date_gmt":"2024-12-21T03:19:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?p=2653"},"modified":"2025-01-08T14:54:23","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T22:54:23","slug":"forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Forgotten Nuggets of California History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n \n \n
\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Forgotten Nuggets of California History<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n\n \n California\u2019s rich history is often defined by iconic periods such as the Gold Rush, the rise of Hollywood and the aerospace boom. But beneath these celebrated events lie lesser-known stories that have quietly shaped the state\u2019s identity.\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n By<\/span>Marcus Paulsen<\/strong>\n \n December 20, 2024<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n \n \n Share\n <\/span>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Copy Link<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Facebook<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n \n\n<\/svg>\n\n <\/span>\n X<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n LinkedIn<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Bluesky<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Email<\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n
\"\"
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From Humble Stage to Legendary Venue<\/h2>\n

When the Hollywood Bowl opened on July 11, 1922, it was little more than a wooden platform with a canvas top. Over time, it grew into a legendary music venue, considered the largest natural outdoor amphitheater in the United States. The Bowl has hosted some of the most influential performances of the 20th century, from the Beatles\u2019 1964 Los Angeles debut to the Doors\u2019 1968 concert, released as a live album in 1987.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n
\"\"
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

California\u2019s Brief Republic, Its Enduring Flag (and our cover)<\/h2>\n

In June 1846, at the outset of the Mexican-American War, some 30 American settlers seized the Mexican-administered town of Sonoma, north of San Francisco. Declaring independence, they raised a makeshift flag featuring a crudely drawn bear. Though the California Republic lasted only 25 days, its flag endured, ultimately becoming the inspiration for the official state flag adopted in 1911. The bear featured on the official flag was modeled after \u201cMonarch,\u201d a California grizzly captured in Ventura County in 1889 on the orders of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, and held captive in San Francisco for 22 years. Featuring the California flag\u2019s grizzly, our cover is inspired by the 1913 sheet music cover<\/a> of the state song<\/a>, \u201cI Love You, California.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n
\"\"
(Photo: Alamy.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Foiling Fascism in California<\/h2>\n

In July 1933, just months after Adolf Hitler rose to power, Nazi-aligned supporters held their first public meeting in L.A. This sinister gathering \u2014replete with brown shirts, swastikas and Nazi salutes \u2014 evolved into a movement that aimed to seize Southern California armories and murder influential Hollywood producers and actors. \u201cThe movement was stymied by a group of citizen-spies, led by Jewish attorney Leon Lewis, who thwarted their plots against democracy,\u201d says Distinguished Professor Steve Ross<\/a>, Dean\u2019s Professor of History<\/a> and an expert<\/a> on the period. Ultimately, local Nazi sympathies dwindled as the nation united against fascism following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n
\"\"
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A State Divided: Southern California\u2019s Bid for Slavery<\/h2>\n

In 1850, California joined the Union as a free state. But by 1858, many Southern California ranch owners pushed for the region to become a separate territory where slavery would be permitted. State Sen. Andr\u00e9s Pico led the movement, and the California State Assembly passed a proposal to split the state at the 36th\u00a0parallel, creating the \u201cTerritory of Colorado\u201d from the southern counties. \u201cThis proposal was one of the earliest \u2014 and perhaps the most ignominious \u2014 of about 220 attempts to divide California,\u201d says Alice Baumgartner<\/a>, associate professor of history. Ultimately, the proposal never reached the U.S. Congress due to the outbreak of the American Civil War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n
\"\"
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pioneering Woman Botanist Championed the Golden Poppy<\/h2>\n

A symbol of California\u2019s beauty, the golden poppy became the state flower thanks to the persistence of botanist Sara Plummer Lemmon<\/a>. A specialist in Western flora, Lemmon discovered 110 plant species and tirelessly worked with the legislature to introduce bills recognizing the golden poppy. After nearly a decade of advocacy, and overcoming opposition from two governors, the bill was finally signed into law in 1903. \u201cLemmon\u2019s work reveals the interwoven strands of scientific wild-botanizing, women\u2019s club culture, and efforts to craft the mythology of California during the era,\u201d says Elizabeth Logan<\/a>, co-director of the Huntington\u2013USC Institute on California and the West<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n
\"\"
(Photo: Alamy.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Birth of Blue Jeans: A California Legacy<\/h2>\n

While California is the birthplace of many iconic cultural exports, one stands out as having legs: good ol\u2019 blue jeans. Patented in 1873 by business partners Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis, the denim pants reinforced with metal rivets were manufactured in San Francisco. They were originally designed for laborers who needed more durable clothing to withstand the rigors of mining, ranching and farming in the American West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n
\"\"
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

California\u2019s Vagabond Capital<\/h2>\n

Sacramento is now California\u2019s established seat of political power, but in the state\u2019s early years, its capital was surprisingly nomadic. Between 1849 and 1862, the capital moved frequently \u2014 from Monterey to San Jose, then to Vallejo, Benicia, and finally, Sacramento, chosen for its river network and proximity to the Gold Rush. However, flooding in 1862 temporarily forced the capital to relocate to San Francisco. The legislature returned to Sacramento and state officials settled permanently in the Capitol building in 1869, even though it was still under construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n
\n
\n\n \n
\n\n \n

\n USC Dornsife Magazine\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Fall 2024 \/ Winter 2025<\/h2>\n

California<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n \n \n\n Back to Issue \n <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nForgotten Nuggets of California History<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Beneath California\u2019s celebrated history events lie lesser-known stories that have quietly shaped the state\u2019s identity.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Little-known nuggets of California's history\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Beneath California\u2019s celebrated history events lie lesser-known stories that have quietly shaped the state\u2019s identity.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"USC Dornsife Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-12-21T03:19:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-08T22:54:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Michael Liu\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Michael Liu\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447\"},\"headline\":\"Forgotten Nuggets of California History\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-21T03:19:15+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-01-08T22:54:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/\"},\"wordCount\":5,\"articleSection\":[\"Article\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/\",\"name\":\"Little-known nuggets of California's history\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-21T03:19:15+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-01-08T22:54:23+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447\"},\"description\":\"Beneath California\u2019s celebrated history events lie lesser-known stories that have quietly shaped the state\u2019s identity.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Forgotten Nuggets of California History\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/\",\"name\":\"USC Dornsife Magazine\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447\",\"name\":\"Michael Liu\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Michael Liu\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/author\/liumk\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Forgotten Nuggets of California History","description":"Beneath California\u2019s celebrated history events lie lesser-known stories that have quietly shaped the state\u2019s identity.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Little-known nuggets of California's history","og_description":"Beneath California\u2019s celebrated history events lie lesser-known stories that have quietly shaped the state\u2019s identity.","og_url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/","og_site_name":"USC Dornsife Magazine","article_published_time":"2024-12-21T03:19:15+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-01-08T22:54:23+00:00","author":"Michael Liu","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/"},"author":{"name":"Michael Liu","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447"},"headline":"Forgotten Nuggets of California History","datePublished":"2024-12-21T03:19:15+00:00","dateModified":"2025-01-08T22:54:23+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/"},"wordCount":5,"articleSection":["Article"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/","name":"Little-known nuggets of California's history","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-12-21T03:19:15+00:00","dateModified":"2025-01-08T22:54:23+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447"},"description":"Beneath California\u2019s celebrated history events lie lesser-known stories that have quietly shaped the state\u2019s identity.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/forgotten-nuggets-of-california-history\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Forgotten Nuggets of California History"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/","name":"USC Dornsife Magazine","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/d03084ed5319ed7575c96017879a7447","name":"Michael Liu","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/16962c8d3900280cb2e47f931ab45f9c2432ea07c167e9c00a6c2f8a0ec3d61f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Michael Liu"},"url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/author\/liumk\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2653","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2653"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2653\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2905,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2653\/revisions\/2905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}