The California Frontier Project

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Adopted by Indians: A True Story (Review)

By Damian Bacich

Author: Thomas Jefferson Mayfield Editor: Malcolm Margolin Illustrators: Hilair Chism, Rick Jones Paperback: 144 pages Publisher and Year: Heyday Books, 1997 As we perused the gift shop of a local history museum, I noticed my son was reading one of the books. Of course, if my children find a book about history that interests them, I pay […]

Filed Under: Books, California Indians, Daily Lives Tagged With: Bay Area, California Indians (Standard 1), Choinumne, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Native Americans, Primary Sources

Native Americans of the San Francisco Bay Area: The Ohlone Tribe, Part 1

By Damian Bacich

The Ohlone people occupied  the San Francisco and Monterey Bay regions for thousands of years. Part 1 of a 2 part series. In the first part of this series, we will discuss the Ohlone name, their traditional territory, Ohlone languages, housing, food and clothes.

Filed Under: California Indians Tagged With: Anza, Bay Area, California Indians (Standard 1), Costanoan, Ohlone

Native Americans in the Rancho Era: Roberto-Suñol and Olompali

By Damian Bacich

In 19th century California, some Indians sought to recover their native lands by requesting grants from the Mexican government. The Roberto-Suñol Adobe and Olompali State Historic Park commemorate two men who did just that.

Filed Under: California Indians, Mexican Rule Tagged With: Adobes, Bay Area, California history, California Indians (Standard 1), Coast Miwok, living history, Miwok, Native Americans, Ohlone, Rancho Era, San José, State Park

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

By Damian Bacich

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 ago.  Greg talks to us about their journey, the character of those people who risked their lives to come to come north, and the legacy they passed on.

Filed Under: Daily Lives, European Settlements, Podcast Episodes, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Anza, Bay Area, Californios, genealogy, living history, National Park Service, San José

A Hidden Gem: Ulistac Natural Area (Video)

By Damian Bacich

Once a Native American settlement and later a rancho, Ulistac Natural Area is now a great place for a kid-friendly day hike in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Filed Under: Field Trips, Kids, Video Tagged With: Bay Area, day hikes

I’m Dr. Damian Bacich, and I started the California Frontier Project. Learn more about me and the project here.

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