What is California Frontier?
If you grew up in California, you most likely learned about the Spanish missions and the Gold Rush, and little else. While those topics are important, there is a lot more to the story.
The California Frontier Project is a window into California's history and deep connections to Latin America, Europe and the Pacific. To a lesser extent, we delve into the history of the borderlands of the U.S. Southwest. We spotlight little-known stories or facts that shed light on well-known ones. We also highlight the people doing serious work on this often misunderstood area of history.
How did it start?
As a 3rd-generation Californian, I have a love for the landscape and the history of this place. I have lived for long periods of time in both the north and the south of the state and have traveled its length and breadth.
In 2007, I joined the faculty of California's oldest public university (San José State), located down the street from California's first civilian settlement (the Pueblo of San José de Guadalupe). I soon started poking around in local Spanish and Mexican-era archives. What I discovered amazed me.
In 2015, I started the California Frontier Project as a way to share what I was learning about California's early history, especially with elementary school teachers and their students. It has expanded to include a website, a podcast and a line of educational resources for teaching California history.
Why subscribe?
The California Frontier Project is supported directly by its readers through subscriptions, one-time donations or purchases of merchandise and digital products.
You can subscribe for free and become part of a community of people who share your interests and comment on articles and other posts. If you choose a paid membership, you will support the long-term health of the California Frontier Project and receive access to some exclusive benefits.
Stay up-to-date
You won’t have to worry about missing anything. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox.
