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  • Curriculum
  • Podcast
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  • Shop/Support
    • Support the Podcast
    • Books
    • T-shirts/mugs
  • About
  • Contact

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  • Exploration,  Settlement

    Todavía Estamos Aquí (We are Still Here)

    246 years ago a group of some two hundred people arrived at the Presidio of San Francisco after an arduous trek from…

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  • Podcast,  Settlement

    Juan Bautista de Anza: Son of the Frontier

    Juan Bautista de Anza was a military officer, governor, explorer and diplomat. His life had an enormous impact on the history of…

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  • Exploration,  Podcast,  Settlement

    Land Grants in Alta California

    The story of land ownership in modern California begins with the practice of Spanish land grants. Beginning in the 18th century, Spain…

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  • Exploration,  Settlement

    Grit and Grace on the Golden Gate: The Unforgettable Juana Briones

    Juana Briones lived in Spanish, Mexican and U.S. California and she left her mark on all three. Now she is receiving the…

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  • Exploration,  Settlement

    The Anza Expedition of 1775-76: Members and Their Families

    In January of 1776, Juan Bautista de Anza arrived in Alta California with just over 200 men, women and children from Tubac…

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  • Exploration,  Mexican California,  Settlement

    Settlers on the California Frontier (Part 2): The Californios

    What type of culture developed among settlers in Alta California? What did they call themselves? How did they live under Mexico and…

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  • Exploration,  Settlement

    Settlers on the California Frontier (Part 1)

    Who settled California? What was their life like? What were the first towns?

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  • Exploration,  Settlement

    Soldiers and Presidios in Alta California (with video)

    Who were the soldiers that came to Alta California? What was their life like? What were the presidios, and what was their…

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  • Exploration,  Podcast,  Settlement

    Podcast Episode 002 — “You Have to Carry This On”: What it Means to Be a Californio

    What it means to be a Californio

    In this episode, I speak with Greg Bernal-Mendoza Smestad, a direct descendant of the families who settled Alta California over 200 years…

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  • Exploration,  Settlement

    Beyond Clichés

      Recently I began recording a series of interviews for a new podcast I will be launching as part of California Frontier.…

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  • Exploration,  Settlement

    Exploration and Settlement of California (Part 2 of 2)

    Juan Bautista de Anza

    For most of the 17th and 18th centuries, Spanish ships dominated the Pacific. But her rivals Russia and England were busy contesting…

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  • Exploration,  Settlement

    Happy Birthday San José

    The Pueblo of San José, founded in 1777.

    San José, California is the oldest city on the West Coast. In November it celebrates its birthday.

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