Library of Congress
Loc: California as I Saw It: First Person Narratives, 1849 1900
The Library of Congress makes available these eyewitness accounts of California's history from 1849 to 1900.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: United States History Map: Indians
An interactive site showing the Native American culture areas and the major tribes living in those areas before the arrival of the Europeans. Click to find out more about Indians living in those area and find a game that challenges you...
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Spanish Missions in California
This primary source set uses documents, photographs, and artwork to tell the story of the development and impact of Spanish missions in California during the Mission period.
Other
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History: The Chumash People of California
A thorough look at the Chumash people of California. Read about their unique plank canoes, basketry, language, and cave paintings. Many pictures of artifacts and drawings accompany the information.
Other
California Missions Resource Center
Peruse this thorough resource featuring historical California missions stretching from San Diego to San Francisco as the Spanish established themselves on the west coast of North America between 1768-1853. Read stories of the early...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Contested Territories
This site highlights the westward expansion of settlers in North America and the effects this expansion had on Native Americans between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
University of California
Hearst Museum: Native Californian Cultures
An exhibition of Native Californian Cultures showcases food, clothing, tools, ceremonies, musical instruments, games, and other aspects of various tribes.
Oakland Museum of California
California's Untold Stories: Natives and Immigrants
This site provides a tour through the history of natives and immigrants to the California Gold Rush area, including African American, California Indian, Chinese, and Latino.
Other
California State Military Museum: Mariposa Indian War, 1850 1851
The California State Military Museum has captured the history of the Indian Wars. This is a synopsis of the Mariposa Indian War which occurred between 1850-1851, the best known battle during the Gold Rush years.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Redwood National Park: American Indians
A brief overview of the California Indian cultures from the northwestern part of the State: Tolowa, Yurok, Hupa, and Karuk.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Channel Islands National Park: Native Inhabitants
Read about the Chumash lived on the Channel Islands off the coast of California, how they built plank canoes from redwood trees to sail in the ocean, and why they were such successful traders.
Other
Historic Trails: Oregon/california Trails
Find a map of the Oregon Trail and California Trail and click Historical Trails tab to discover the hardships and daily grind of traveling on the Oregon Trail.
Ducksters
Ducksters: California State History for Kids
Did you know California's history included early explorers, Native Americans, the Gold Rush, and the Bear Republic? Learn about the history and timeline of the state of California on this site.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Ranch/mission Days Alta California
An 1890 article in "Century Magazine" by Guadalupe Vallejo relates his understanding of Hispanic influences on ranches and missions that existed in California before it became a state.
Other
California State University: Group Portrait of Native Americans by C. B. King
A reproduction of "Young Omahaw, War Eagle, Little Missouri, and Pawnees" by Charles Bird King.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: The American West: The Gold Rush
Describes the impact of the California Gold Rush of 1848 which brought hundreds of thousands of gold-seeking migrants to the region. This massive influx of people to a place with little law enforcement and no infrastructure led to...
Oakland Museum of California
California's Untold Stories: Silver and Gold
This site provides a virtual tour of the mining of silver and gold in California through excellent photos and facts.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Point Reyes National Seashore: Coast Miwok at Point Reyes
The National Park Services provides an enlightening overview of the history and culture of the Coast Miwok tribe at Point Reyes, California.
Curated OER
Perry Castaneda Map Collection: Map of Early Indian Tribes in the Western u.s.
Map showing the Native American culture areas and the tribes within those cultures in western North America. From the Perry Castaneda collection.
Other
California Newsreel Teacher's Guide: Black Boy
Have you ever read any of Richard Wright's work? This site offers an extensive crosscurricular Teacher's Guide that includes questions for research and writing.
Other
Access Genealogy: Shasta Indian Tribe
This is a thorough description of the Shasta Indian Tribe. Author discusses Shasta culture, language, location, customs, food, and art. The writing in this article contains some negative language that is probably due to the time in which...
University of California
Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
A great place to visit for anyone living/teaching in the Bay Area of California. Nonetheless, the on-line education department offers great resources for people all over the country for topics such as California Indian cultures, Mexican...
![Lompoc Museum: Chumash Indians [Pdf] Handout](http://content.lessonplanet.com/resources/thumbnails/410019/large/bwluav9tywdpy2symdiwmduymc0ymzcwni0xnw9pc28ylmpwzw.jpg?1589984783 "Lompoc Museum: Chumash Indians [Pdf] Handout")
Other
Lompoc Museum: Chumash Indians [Pdf]
A very complete look at the Chumash Indians of California from the Lompoc Museum. Read an overview of how the Chumash lived and took advantage of their environment. Follow links to see maps of where they lived and information about their...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Achumawi
The students will learn about the origins and the culture of the Achumawi people in northeast California.