We attended a State Park Foundation event here which included
a talk by Joanne Semones, author of a number of books on lighthouses and
California coast history.
Showing posts with label State Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label State Park. Show all posts
Monday, September 11, 2023
CSHP - Pigeon Point Lighthouse
"After a struggle to secure property at the point, Congress appropriated a sum of $90,000 in March 1871 for a first-class lighthouse and fog signal on Pigeon Point. The fog signal and Victorian fourplex were completed first, and the twelve-inch steam whistle, with four-second blasts separated alternately by seven and forty-five seconds, was fired up for the first time on September 10, 1871. Torrential rains and difficulty in assembling the spiral staircase, which had been fabricated by Nutting & Son in San Francisco, contributed to delays in completing the tower. After the lantern room was in place atop the tower, the delicate lens was assembled inside, and the light was exhibited for the first time on November 15, 1872, over fourteen months after the fog signal was completed. At sunset that evening, Keeper J. W. Patterson started the brass clockwork ticking, ignited the lard oil in the lamp, and soon the lighthouse according to Patterson was “exchanging winks and blinks with its neighbor of the Farallones.”
Monday, September 12, 2022
CSP - Wilder Ranch
On a visit in Jan 2020, I took a hike around the property and through the buildings of the Wilder Ranch, which was the main rancho supplying the Santa Cruz Mission. 
Monday, September 20, 2021
CSHP - Monterey
The Presidio of Monterey was established in 1770 by Father Junipero Serra. Monterey was established as the capital of California in 1775, a title it retained under both Spanish and Mexican rule. The Mexican government built the Custom House, which is the oldest government building in California and California's first State Historical Landmark.
In 1849 as the push for statehood led to a state constitution being drafted in Colton Hall. When California became a state in 1850, however, San Jose was chosen as the seat of California government.
Monterey Historic Park is comprised of a number of buildings including the Custom House and Pacific House Museum near the Marina as well as a number of Adobes and other buildings spread through the surrounding blocks.
There is a days worth of museums and gardens to be seen.
In 1849 as the push for statehood led to a state constitution being drafted in Colton Hall. When California became a state in 1850, however, San Jose was chosen as the seat of California government.
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| Pacific House Museum |
There is a days worth of museums and gardens to be seen.
- Monterey State Historic Park
- Monterey State Historic Park Assoc
- Trail Posts: A Literary Exploration of California's State Parks Read a selection from Isabel Allende's Zorro.
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
CSHP - Petaluma Adobe
It was a fun day. I highly recommend a visit on sheep shearing day!
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
CSP - Jedediah Smith Redwoods
Traveling down the coast in 1980 from a visit to family in Washington, we stumbled on Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. It was lovely, a great place to stay for a couple of days and an opportunity for some early fishing.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Jedediah Smith Redwoods -wikipedia
More Pictures 1980
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
CSP - Prairie Creek Redwoods
A stop on my way down the coast from Portland in 2019. The route was one beautiful park after another!
- Prairie Creeks Redwood State Park
- Trail Posts: A Literary Exploration of California's State Parks Stephen Sillett and Marwood Harris climb 120 feet up a giant redwood in this passage from Richard Preston's Wild Trees
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
CSP - Castle Rock
Another favorite over
the years. It is a great place for climbing and hiking! The pictures here
are from 1979. Andi had attitude even
then. 
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
CSP - Humboldt Redwoods
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
More Pictures
Trail Posts: A Literary Exploration of California's State Parks Willam Leon Dawson, author of the 1923 Birds of California describes the spotted owl, who he likens to a "patriarchal gnome disturbed in his slumbers."
More Pictures
Trail Posts: A Literary Exploration of California's State Parks Willam Leon Dawson, author of the 1923 Birds of California describes the spotted owl, who he likens to a "patriarchal gnome disturbed in his slumbers."
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
CSP / CSHM - Hearst San Simeon
A Trip up the coast after dropping Andi off at PCPA in 1992 included a stop at Hearst Castle. We probably stopped in the Park at that time, but I don't remember. We spent a fun night in Cambria.
The park pictures are nearly twenty years later on a visit to Cambria with Maura and William.
More Pictures
Trail Posts: A Literary Exploration of California's State Parks Read this description of Hearst's Ranch from Samantha Barbas' The First Lady of Hollywood.
The park pictures are nearly twenty years later on a visit to Cambria with Maura and William.
More Pictures
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
CSP - Big Basin Redwoods State Park
The family's first camping trip in 1978 allowed us to work out the kinks in preparation for a trip to Yosemite.
Somebody forgot a belt! And somebody else had a little trouble crossing a log on the trail. Daddy held her hand and walked her across and then back and made her do it again!!
Other than that all went well!
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Misión la Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz
CALIFORNIA REGISTRER HISTORICAL LANDMARK # 342 76000530 
A visit to the mission in Santa Cruz requires two stops at the top of Mission Hill. The first to the church finds a 1/3 size replica of the original mission which was destroyed in 1857 and the second to the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park where there are magnificent views from the gardens.
Santa Cruz, the 12th California Mission, was founded on the bluff in 1791 by President Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuén and founding missionaries Frs. Isídro Salazar and Balamero López. The Awaswas triblet of the Costanoans were the earliest of the neophytes. They were later joined by Yokuts and other Costanoans.
The church is still a Catholic church and is popular for local marriages
The State Historic park features the only original building left. The single story adobe which was built between 1822 and 1824 was originally about twice the size it is now. It provided housing for the neophytes.
When the mission system was secularized in 1834 the neophytes left, either abandoning the rooms or selling them to Californios.
Today the building is home to exhibits that tell the story of the early mission and it's residents through the years including the neophytes, the Californios and others. Be sure to pick up the self-guided tour brochure in the gift shop before starting.
California Mission State Historic Park
California Missions - Santa Cruz
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
Trail Posts: A Literary Exploration of California's State Parks Lorenzo Asisara remembers a story told him by his father in 1818 in Reminiscences.
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