RPI

Before there was a Los Angeles or a San Francisco, there was Spain’s first colony in upper California, El Presidio de San Diego.

Founded in 1769, this small fortress and mission was the seedling for the twenty-one missions and four presidios that followed. It was here that Franciscan priest Junípero Serra planted the first Catholic cross in what became Alta California. The nearby harbor provided a safe port for sailing ships from all over the world, ensuring a steady stream of goods and supplies. Over its many decades, the San Diego Presidio was home to Spaniards, Mexicans, Native people and, toward the end, Anglo-Americans. Its cemetery became the final resting place for many of them.

Author and historian Richard Carrico provides insights into San Diego’s beginnings.

"There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country." —Theodore Roosevelt

 In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt embarked on one of the most audacious journeys in presidential history—the epic "Great Loop Tour." This daring nine-week, 14,000-mile train trek across 25 states transformed the landscape of American conservation.

At the heart of this monumental trip lies a legendary three-night camping expedition through Yosemite alongside renowned naturalist John Muir. This profound experience would help spark the creation of the National Park system and the preservation of many of America’s wild spaces for future generations.

Roosevelt’s tour broke other boundaries along the way, including the presence of courageous African American Buffalo Soldiers who not only protected the President, but became the first guardians of our national parks.

The remarkable connections between Roosevelt, Yosemite, and President Abraham Lincoln, along with the many other fascinating characters helped to shape the modern conservation movement for decades to come.

In this revised and expanded edition, author Chris Epting explores one of the most impactful presidential journeys in American history and the forging of our national parks. 

Once a twenty-seven-thousand-acre parcel named for the hills it features, Rancho Los Cerritos is a place where the past meets the present and provides a fascinating glimpse into California’s history.

Home of the Gabrielino-Tongva for more than five thousand years, the land was claimed and colonized by Spain and then Mexico before it became part of the United States. New Englander John Temple, together with his wife, Rafaela Cota, bought the land in the early 1800s. Through a workforce of Indigenous laborers, he built a unique two-story adobe to be the headquarters of a large-scale cattle ranch, propelling Temple and Rancho Los Cerritos to the forefront of Southern California’s prosperity.

Over the next two centuries, the Rancho adobe was home to gold rush miners, Mexican vaqueros, Chinese cooks, and more. These intrepid individuals persisted through feasts and famine, floods, droughts, and even war. Today, the adobe houses a historic museum and connects visitors to those who left an indelible mark on the region.

Join Dr. Leslie Reese as she shares the stories of the people who called Rancho Los Cerritos home.

Since 1950, Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort has been celebrated as a family-run, family-loved destination. It is the closest snow to the San Francisco Bay Area and the Central Valley. Many generations have learned to ski and snowboard on these slopes. There are multiple runs for all levels within the ski area and breathtaking views to enjoy with each turn. Ski legends have been and still are instructors here. An Olympian was raised here. Many people have called Dodge Ridge their happy place and a second home. It is a unique resort that is mighty in the hearts of outdoor enthusiasts. Now it is a year-round destination that includes mountain biking, hiking, and disc golf as the owners continue to expand family fun and fond memories. Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort operates in the Stanislaus National Forest under a special use permit from the US Forest Service.

Tricia O’Brien is also the author of San Francisco’s Bayview Hunter’s Point, San Francisco’s Pacific Heights and Presidio Heights, San Francisco Giants, and Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village. Through photographs and stories from locals, O’Brien shows the resort’s evolution from raw forest land to a year-round recreation playground.

From the largest explosion in human history to the infamous Port Chicago Mutiny trial, Concord After World War II captures pivotal moments in California's history.

Explosive growth after the war made Concord a popular stop for presidents, celebrities, and musical events. A small town of about 1,500 people in the 1940s now is home to more than 120,000. Jazz musician Dave Brubeck was born here, and the internationally acclaimed Concord Blue Devils still perform here. The 1960s saw the birth of the annual Concord Jazz Festival and Concord Jazz Records. Concord became sister cities with Kitakami, Japan, in the 1970s. The controversial Spirit Poles were erected in the 1980s, and De La Salle High School’s unbelievable 151-game football winning streak began in the 1990s.

Area native Joel A. Harris is the author of Images of America: Concord and Past & Present: Concord. He is a state bar certified specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law. Harris is a board member of the Concord Historical Society, who provided many of the outstanding images presented in this book. Other wonderful photographs are provided courtesy of the Contra Costa County Historical Society and local residents.

The area now known as Los Gatos dates to time out of memory, when Ohlone Indians settled in a favored locality, rich in natural beauty and resources.

From El Rancho de Los Gatos, the Mexican land grant of 1839, to 1854 when James Alexander Forbes built his flour mill, and to the era of the Valley of Heart’s Delight, an orchardist’s paradise, history has been recorded, and photographs still survive. The railroad arrived in 1877 and put Los Gatos on the map. The town burned down twice, in 1891 and 1901, but was rebuilt by residents who took pride in the matchless small town they called home. In the 1920s, Los Gatos attracted writers, painters, poets, and other assorted creative folk. The population expanded rapidly after World War II, and the orchards disappeared, replaced by homes and businesses. The October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta Earthquake devastated the town, with old unreinforced masonry buildings on Main Street and North Santa Cruz Avenue collapsing and at least 400 homes, including stately restored Victorians, damaged. Images of America: Los Gatos Remembered showcases the memories and history of this picturesque area of California. 

Peggy Conaway Bergtold, MA, MLS, retired director of the Los Gatos Public Library, has gathered together photographs from many sources to help preserve the community’s collective memory. 

A buffalo ranch, banana stand wars, and the world’s largest surfboard. 

Since its founding in 1889, Orange County has captured the world's attention with its iconic attractions, stunning beaches, and vibrant communities. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a treasure trove of hidden gems. From lion safaris and an alligator farm to roaming buffalo, the theme parks of Orange County once offered a wide variety of thrills before fading into obscurity. The county is also the site of one of the most infamous UFO sightings in history, documented by Rex Heflin’s Polaroid camera in 1965. A plethora of famous rock stars, athletes, and actors have left their mark, though many of their local haunts have long since disappeared. Social justice movements and dramatic showdowns are woven into the tapestry of the county’s history alongside tales of aviation, agriculture, and the innovative businesses that took root here.

Join author and historian Chris Epting as he shines a light on offbeat and exotic tales of the O.C.