us Tr,, ,I ry COUNTY LIBRARY WEAVERVILLE, CALIFORNIA Ubrarr DI TRINITY RJVCR BASIN Use RESOURCE LIBRARY OniJ N2 1960 v 6 (c.i') NATURAL RESOURCES OF NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA PRELIMINARY REPORT APPENDIX RECREATION RESOURCES • SUPPLEMENT HISTORY AND ARCHEOLOGY UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PACIFIC SOUTHWEST FIELD COMMITTEE PREPARED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TRINITY COUNTY LIBRARY WEAVERVILLE, CALIFORNIA TRINITY RIVER BASIN RESOURCE LIBRARY NATURAL RESOURCES OF NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA PRELIMINARY REPORT APPENDIX RECREATION RESOURCES SUPPLEMENT HISTORY AND ARCHEOLOGY UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT Of THE INTERIOR PACIFIC SOUTHWEST FIELD COMMITTEE by HYMAN PALAIS- PROFESSOR OF HISTORY Humboldt State College and ADAN E. TREGANZA - PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY San Francisco State College for NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MAY 1958 FOREWORD In the investigation of the recreation resources of Northwestern California, an attempt has been made to consider recreation in its broadest aspects. Contemporary features, which have been or could be made available for active, participant recreation represent only one phase of the investigation. Of importance, as well, are the subjects of early-day explorations, the settling and development of the country, and the story of its native people. To the student, and to others interested in these subjects, the history, archeology and ethnology of an area afford not only educational, but also recreational outlets. This supplement to the recreation resources appendix is pre­ sented in a separate volume, because of its special treatment and appeal, and because the manuscripts were prepared under contract. The section on History was prepared by Dr. Hyman Palais, Pro­ fessor of History at Humboldt State College, while the story on Ar­ chaeology and E-thnology was the responsibility of Dr. Adan E. Treganza, Professor of Anthropology at San Francisco State College. Both manu­ scripts have been reviewed and edited by National Park Service per­ sonnel. CONTENTS Page PART I. HISTORY Letter of Transmittal . • . 3 INTRODUCTION . • . • . 5 HISTORICAL NARRATIVE . 7 Coastal Area . 7 Humboldt County .......................... 13 Del Norte County . 23 Trinity County . 28 Mendocino County . 32 Siskiyou County . 36 HISTORIC SITES OF SPECIAL INTEREST ......•..... 43 Humboldt County • . 43 [)el Norte County . 48 Trinity County . • . 52 Siskiyou County . 56 BIBLIOGRAPHY . • . 61 PART II. ARCHEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY Letter of Transmittal . • . • . 65 PREFACE . ... 67 THE NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA CULTURE AREA ..• 71 NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA SITES RECOMMENDED FOR PRESERVATION ..•.••. 0 •• 75 OTHER AREAS . 82 Upper Trinity River . 82 Eel River Drainage . 0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 82 CONCLUSION . 85 BIBLIOGRAPHY . • . • . 87 PART I HISTORY Mr. Lawrence C. Merri8Dl Regional Director National Park Service 18o New Montgomery Street San Francisco 5, California Dear Mr. Merriam: In fulfillment of Contract 14-10-434-93, entered into with the National Park Service in 1956, I attach my report Which embodies the research covering my study of the history of North- western California. The report is based on field investigations, interviews with old-time residents, and review of published materials in libraries throughout the study area, as well as at Berkeley and Los Angeles. The sites selected as having special interest !rem a recreational standpoint have been chosen from a long list. They by no means represent the complete story of the exploration and development of the study area, but do constitute a tair repre- sentation. other researchers might well consider other sites as being more important, and it is probable that as ti.lle goes on additional sites will be recognized. Sincerely, ~az.v:.~ Hyman Pal.ais Professor of History Humboldt state College 3 THE H1STORY OF NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA by HYMAN PALAIS INTRODUCTION The history of Northwestern California is relatively recent. Aside from a few early explorations by Europeans, there was little activity in this part of the State prior to the last quarter of the eighteenth cen­ tury. From about 1775 or 1800, however, interest in the area became intense, and its history includes almost the complete range of ex­ periences found anywhere in California. Sea voyages of exploration by Spaniards, Frenchmen, Englishmen, Americans, and Russians; over­ land treks by fur trappers and explorers; skirmishes with Indians; excitement following the discovery of gold; agricultural settlement, and the rise and fall of small cities all have their place in the history of this relatively remote part of the State. Because of the nature of the general Northwestern California In­ vestigation, which is primarily concerned with river basins, the his­ torical section is organized by counties. The coastal areas, however, represent a unique and different aspect, so they are treated separately. This has r esulted in some unavoidable overlapping and repetition. For reasons of simplicity, and to set them out more distinctly, a few sites, carefully selected as being of special interest, have been grouped at the end of this r eport, rather than being mentioned in the county discussions. 5 HISTORICAL NARRATIVE COASTAL AREA The first Europeans to explore the coast of Alta California were the Spaniards, Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo and Bartolome Ferrelo, who in 1542 probably reached a point north of Cape Mendocino. The following year Ferrelo's explorations led him as far north as the mouth of the Rogue River, Oregon. Because of severe storms he was almost ship­ wrecked, and was compelled to keep seventy or eighty miles off the coast while sailing northward. Francis Drake passed southward along the California coast in June, 1579. His ship was leaking badly and he was searching for a safe harbor where he might make repairs. Most historians believe the place he selected was Drake's Bay, thirty miles northwest of San Francisco, although one prominent historian, H. R. Wagner, claims Drake landed at what is now Trinidad Bay. During the winter of 1602-03 Sebastian Vizcaino was engaged in exploring the northwest coast. His two vessels, the San Diego and the Tres Reyes, became separated. The San Diego reached Cape Mendocino on June 12, 1603, and then continued northward to latitude 42 o, but storms prevented a close inspection of the coast. The TYes Reyes con­ tinued northward to the vicinity of Cape Blanco, latitude 43°, but no adequate study of the coastline could be made because of the diffi­ culties and dangers encountered on the voyage. For the next 166 years, with the possible exception of the visit of the annual Manila galleon, whose mission did not allow much time for coast exploration, the Spaniards did nothing to explore and settle California. In 1769, aroused by jealousies caused by Russian explora- 7 tion of Alaska, the Spaniards began to plant their missions in Califor­ nia. Then voyages by Perez, Ayala, Martinez, Haro, Artega, Fidalgo, Quimper and others widened the knowledge of the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington, but failed to discover any important details. In 1775 two vessels under the command of Bruno de Heceta worked their way up the coast of California. One of these ships, the schooner Sonora, under the command of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Cuadra, with Francisco Mourelle as pilot, seeking a sheltered anchorage, en­ tered Trinidad Bay and spent the time from June 9 to June 20 exploring, charting the harbor, planting a cross on the hill, and making valuable observations on the rocks, tides, fish, birds, mammals, forest, flora, and inhabitants. On June 11, the Spaniards took formal possession of the country, and since this was Trinity Sunday, they named the port accordingly. The discovery of Trinidad Bay was productive of no permanent results. Father Junipero Serra, president of the California missions, urged that the Spanish claim to this territory be strengthened by making settlements and founding establishments among the natives similar to those in the region farther south. The death of his supporter, Antonio Bucareli, Viceroy of New Spain, deprived him of a friend at court, and the enterprise was abandoned. In 1790 the king of England sent out two ships under the command of George Vancouver to explore the Pacific. In April, 1792, Vancouver explored the area around Cape Mendocino, and returned the following year to look for Trinidad. His ships were anchored in Trinidad Bay from May 2 to May 5, 1793, while the party spent two days on shore exploring, charting the bay, studying the natives, and securing the necessary supplies. 8 - e ......~. .... ..... ..... d!imrM:• - Tinidad Bay, discovered in 1775, became the objectiveof the early explorers of Northwestern California. In the early part of the nineteenth century the search for fur­ bearing animals, especially the sea otter, brought many adventurers to the region. Captain William Shaler brought the American vessel the , Lelia Byrd to Trinidad Bay on May 11, 1804. Water, wood and spars were obtained, but trading with the natives became too dangerous, and the ship departed on the 18th. In May, 1805, Captain Jonathan Winship, while in Sitka with the O'Cain, made a contract with the Russian Governor, A. Baranov, to take one hundred Aleuts with fifty small boats on a ten to fourteen months' hunting trip to California to search for sea otter. The profits of the expedition were to be divided between Winship and the Russian­ American Company. The O'Cain sailed into Trinidad Bay on June 11, 1805. Trade was carried on with the natives and a large supply of furs was obtained, but because of the danger of a war with the Indians the ship left Trinidad on June 22. The following year, 1806, the O'Cain re­ turned to the Trinidad area, and Winship was the first to discover and enter the waters of Humboldt Bay. Winship's chart of Humboldt Bay was published in an atlas compiled by T ebenkov in St. Petersburg in 1852. After Winship left, there is no record of any ship entering Hum­ boldt Bay previous to 1850. Trinidad Bay, on the other hand, was visited by several ships, and many descriptions of the Trinidad region are to be found.