by Cathie Berglund
Sep. 14, 2026
How was your holiday celebration this year? Did you have a feast? Did you decorate your home with blue and gold? What type of California-themed foods did you serve this year? “What holiday?” you ask. September 9th is California Admission Day, of course! Every year we can celebrate the Golden State and reflect on the people, places and events that have brought this huge piece of secluded real estate into the global spotlight. The story of California is much more fascinating than any textbook can capture, which is why we’re going to explore some of our state’s myths, secrets, and amazing facts in a series of three articles this fall. We hope you and your family will dig in and discover why you can be proud to call California your home state. Take a minute to add Admission Day on September 9th to your calendar for next year, then read on to discover some ways to teach the state’s history in your homeschool. Why Study California History? To understand California’s history, we first need to understand the geography that shaped it. The state’s location in the world, and the ocean, mountains, and desert that border it, kept the area secluded from settlement for hundreds of years. Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 states (14,496 feet in elevation) is just 85 miles from the lowest point in the U.S—Death Valley at 282 ft. below sea level. Hundreds of mountains and three expansive deserts kept all but the most prepared and hearty explorers from finding California by land, while the state’s rugged coastline presented another challenge to early explorers by sea. The 1,264 miles of shoreline are a very daunting sight (and often hidden by fog), so San Francisco Bay—one of the best harbors in the U.S.—was hidden from explorers for over 200 years! The courage and determination of the early explorers, mountain men, and local leaders who shaped the state are inspiring. Reading the stories of adventurers like Jedediah Strong Smith, John C. Frémont, and Father Junípero Serra point us to God’s faithfulness and encourage us to grow in our own faith. You can also combine your study of California history with your U.S. history studies since both coasts share many concurrent events in their stories. (For example, cities on both the East and West coasts of North America saw uprisings in 1776, but only one of the revolts was successful in the long run.) The two subjects complement each other and can be studied together. How to Get Started Here are some helpful resources and supplies to consider as you explore California’s unique history: A globe – the best way to understand how far California was from its leaders in Spain and, later, in Mexico City Printable maps of the World, North America, and California A list of historical fiction and non-fiction books to read together: Suggested reading list from CHEA Staff members Beautiful Feet Books book list Several state history curriculums are available, but here are a few suggestions: His California Story by Lesha Myers (available from Amazon) California History (4-6) by Beautiful Feet Books Our Golden California by Juanita C. Houston (available from Amazon) My California by Our Land Publications (may include some non-biblical references) Field trips – There is no shortage of field trip destinations in California! Search your hometown and surrounding counties for field trip ideas. CHEA Members have access to the CHEA Field Trip Guide with over 100 field trip destinations. Customize the lesson plans to match your child’s learning level: In the primary grades (4th, 5th, or 6th) concentrate on how California was discovered, explored, named, and settled; In the middle grades, add a study of the Mexican American War; the Gold Rush, and California’s interactions with the U.S. Civil War; In the high school years, combine California history with a Civics class (such as CHEA’s Guide to U.S. Civics—also free to CHEA’s members) and include California’s two constitutions (1849 and 1879) and our state’s unique voter initiative process. Studying the Land and Its People A great place to begin is with a study of California’s geography and its place in the wider world. In the “Suggestions for Further Study” section below, we’ve included a few map exercises for students of all levels. It’s especially helpful to explore the ocean currents that kept explorers from reaching California’s shores for hundreds of years. Studying these currents also helps explain why the 950-mile voyage from La Paz, Mexico, to San Diego took three months by sea in 1769, while Father Serra and Captain de Portolá made the same journey overland with families and livestock in just six weeks. It is also important to learn about those who lived here before the first Europeans arrived in 1542. It is estimated that up to 300,000 indigenous people in approximately 100 tribes lived here before Spanish missionaries and soldiers came to the area. Each group had its own language, and they used the natural resources of their area to live and develop their unique culture. They were fishers and builders, gatherers of acorns and shellfish, and some who moved their homes from the valleys to the coast as the seasons changed. Next, trace the steady expansion of European exploration across the Americas. It is helpful to make a map and a timeline of their travels and achievements. Here are a few key events that are important to California’s story: 1492 – Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas while searching for a shorter route from Europe to the East Indies. 1513 – Vasco Núñez de Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean and claimed it and all it touched for Spain. 1519 to1522 – Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to sail into the Pacific Ocean. 1519 – Hernán Cortés and his army arrived in New Spain (modern-day Mexico) in search of riches. 1538 – Cortés sent Francisco de Ulloa north from New Spain to find the fabled waterway between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans called the Strait of Anián (known as the Northwest Passage to the English). 1542 – Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo landed in San Diego harbor. 1577 – Sir Francis Drake landed near San Francisco Bay and claimed California for England. California’s Place in the World As Spanish conquistadors explored the interior of New Spain, stories began to circulate about islands of gold and mountains of silver. Believing that the land west of the mainland was an island, Cortes gave the unexplored land the name “California”, naming it for a mythical island ruled by Queen Califia from a novel by the Spanish poet Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. The mysterious island turned out to be a peninsula, however, as Francisco de Ulloa discovered on his 1538 expedition. The Spanish were not deterred, however, from their original plan to bring the riches of Asia back to Europe, so they continued across the Pacific and conquered the Philippines in 1564 and established a trade route from Acapulco to Manila and back again, by way of the west coast of North America. They filled the Manila Galleons with treasures to bring home to New Spain. The long voyage could take up to 200 days, and their crews were devastated by scurvy, vermin, accidents, and the weather. They needed to establish a port in Alta California where crews could refresh before continuing southward. In 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno was sent to find a suitable harbor for the Manila Galleon on its long journey back from the Philippines. He sailed north and sent back glowing reports of the bay we now know as Monterey Bay. With this discovery, California could have become an important asset for the Spanish empire, but it was virtually ignored for the next 160 years. Why? We’ll find out more about this confusing hole in California’s story next month when we continue the study of our state’s unique history. In the meantime, please check out the resources mentioned above and plan to visit the historic sites in every corner of the state. Suggestions for further study: World Geography - To help students understand California’s place in the world, label: Seven continents - Find Spain; Alta and Baja California; Mexico City and Acapulco, Mexico; Manila, Philippines. Five oceans - Outline the area that Balboa claimed in 1513. Major seas Draw the Pacific and Atlantic ocean currents and the direction they flow. Research the plants or animals that can only be found in California. Draw a map of the indigenous people groups in the state in the 1500s. Research the culture, food, and traditions of the tribes that lived in the area where you now live. California’s name comes from a mythical island ruled by a valiant queen. Can you find other U.S. states whose names come from myths or legends? Learn more about Montalvo’s story of Califia, the mythical Queen of California. Create a timeline of California history and add significant events from U.S. history to discover how the two coasts become one nation. ___________________________________ Cathie Berglund is the Exhibits Coordinator for CHEA. She and her husband homeschooled their two, now grown, children through high school. Cathie's homeschooling years sparked a love for the study of God’s Word, for reading and teaching literature, and for encouraging families in their own homeschool journeys.
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