Wonderscape
The End of Gold Fever: Changing California
Discover how the California Gold Rush faded as the gold dried up and mining became industrialized. Learn about the rise of hydraulic mining, the environmental damage it caused, and the shift from dreams of riches to harsh labor. See how...
Wonderscape
Gold Rush Inequality: Power and Prejudice
Learn how the California Gold Rush transformed the region while revealing deep racial injustices. Explore the violent displacement of Native Americans, the impact of the Foreign Miners' Tax on Chinese and Hispanic miners, and how white...
Wonderscape
The Gold Rush: Dreams, Disappointment, and Change
Follow the story of the California Gold Rush, from James Marshall's discovery to the mass migration of hopeful miners known as the Forty-Niners. Learn how the promise of quick riches drew people from around the world, transforming...
Mazz Media
California
The exciting story of the State of California comes alive in this informational and entertaining video program. Filled with archival footage, rare photos and animated maps combined with brilliant HD video, this program will teach...
Weird History
The Stanford Prison Experiment
In 1971, professor Philip Zimbardo put together one of the most intriguing and famous psychology experiments ever: the Stanford Prison Experiment, designed to study the effects of incarceration on prisoners and guards. Using an...
Bloomberg
Antioch Mayor on Apology for City's Anti-Asian History
Sep.15 -- Despite months of activism aimed at curbing anti-Asian incidents, 2021 continues to see an increase in these occurrences. This has lead one city to make amends with its Asian American community present and past. Officials in...
Curated Video
For decades, hundreds of migrating cliff swallows have nested each spring at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, one of 21 historic Spanish missions that trace the California coastline. But recently, the swallows have almost vanished from the 236-year-old site.
HEADLINE: Mating songs used to lure swallows back to mission
CAPTION: For decades, hundreds of migrating cliff swallows have nested each spring at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, one of 21 historic Spanish missions that trace the...
PBS
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
An interesting video uses photos and interviews to explain how American settlers coming to Californiafor the gold rush treated Californios and Mexicans. The resources focuses on one Californio, Mariano Vallejo, and his struggle to...
PBS
Apolinaria Lorenzana and the California Missions
The California missions transformed California. A short video discusses the missions, their purpose, how they eventually lost their power, and what happened to Native Americans when the missions closed.
C-SPAN
On This Day: California Gold Rush
Upon hearing of the gold discovery at Sutter's Mill in California in the 1840s, a flood of migrants went West in search of wealth and fame. Others, such as Chinese workers, came from farther away. Using video clips from historians and...
PBS
Carlos Vaquerano
An 11-minute video shines a spotlight on Carlos Vaquerano, an El Salvadorian who made his way to the United States of America at the age of 15 to escape the dangers that took over his country. Interviews detail how and why Vaquerano left...
PBS
The Farm Worker Movement
An impactful video details the work of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in creating the United Farmworkers. In the 1960s farm workers of California stood together to better their working conditions. Making their way to Sacramento,...
PBS
LA Walkouts
An informative video takes you to East Los Angeles In the 1960s. Educator, Sal Castro identified a common problem among the Latino population and as a native Angelino, he decided to do something about it. Castro planned a walkout across...
PBS
Deportations
A video details the life of the Castañeda family starting in Los Angelas in the 1920s. Daughter, Emilia, tells her story of how her family was deported during the Great Depression and her struggles to return the United States of...
Channel Islands Film
Magic Isle
26 miles across the sea from southern California, Santa Catalina, the Magic Isle of the Channel Islands chain, awaits. Explore the island with a documentary that details the history of and the challenges faced by this romantic isle.
Channel Islands Film
Once Upon A Time
Julie Tumamait-Stenslie, a Chumash Elder, narrates a documentary of the history of the Chumash people on Santa Cruz Island.
Channel Islands Film
Arlington Springs Man
Pigmy mammoths on the Channel Islands? Indeed. West of the West's Arlington Springs Man documents the history of the archeological digs on Santa Rosa Island and the discovery of human and mammoth bones that challenge the once...
Channel Islands Film
The Last Roundup
The issues raised by the transitioning of Santa Rosa Island from privately owned to a National Park are explored in a short, poignant documentary that weaves together vintage family photos and videos with interviews with a member of the...
Channel Islands Film
The Legendary King of San Miguel
The West of the West's documentary The Legendary King of San Miguel, presents the story of Herbert Lester, who for years served as the manager of San Miguel Island located off the coast of Santa Barbara, California.
Channel Islands Film
First Contact
America began well before Jamestown, well before Plymouth Rock. An informative video introduces the 1542 Spanish expedition that explored the Channel Islands off the coast of southern California. The voyage started with the attempt...
TED-Ed
How Blue Jeans Were Invented
Can you even imagine life without blue jeans? Viewers get the goods on this oh so American apparel from a short video that traces the origins of these durable duds.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Folklife Center: California Audio and Video Samples and Notes
This collection of sound files from the American Folklife Center reflects the life, culture, diversity and traditions of the people of California. It includes traditional songs, music and personal stories.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Wyatt Earp
A legend of the American West, Wyatt Earp, has been romanticized in countless movies and television shows. This documentary examines the more complicated life of this American legend. [01:00:00]
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Sleepy Lagoon Case
The disturbing story of the Sleepy Lagoon case in which 22 Mexican American defendants were tried together in the same court case in front of Charles W. Fricke (1882-1958 CE).