California exploded onto the American scene in 1848. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in February 1848, ended the Mexican-American War and made California a territory of the United States, open to migration and settlement. And just days earlier, in January 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill. The result: California almost overnight became “Gold Mountain” and the hope and dream of many.

As word of the gold find spread, the Chinese referred to California as “JinShan”, from “jin” = “gold” and “shan” = “mountain”. The Chinese were some of the first to arrive in the area to begin mining for gold; they were able to sail there in a month, whereas those from South America required 2-3 months of travel and East Coasters took 3-6 months to get there on much more challenging routes. California, “Gold Mountain,” was the land of opportunity, a place and chance for anyone, regardless of background and status, to get rich quick, where the payoff could be greater than almost anywhere else on earth. It’s estimated that over 300,000 people, mostly men, uprooted themselves and left their homes in search of riches and a new life those riches would allow. 

Of course, in reality, only a few made a fortune, a relatively small percentage (5-10%) got rich, and many/most ended up either empty-handed or in debt. The people who built infrastructure (hotels, saloons, brothels, stores) and catered to the miners prospered more often: those who sold shovels made more money than those using them. Eventually corporations and new, capital-intensive technology forced out the individual miners, but the allure of California gold never faded. That allure has been a critical part of the American story.

With California the desired destination of so many, the transcontinental railroad made it accessible. The Central Pacific Railroad Company started in Sacramento building eastward, while the Union Pacific Railroad Company began in Omaha building westward, with the golden spike driven in Promontory Summit, Utah, on May 10, 1869. With the completion of the line, travel from Philadelphia to Sacramento was reduced to one week, with the fare sometimes as low as a dollar. The rush to Gold Mountain accelerated.

Soon, land became the new gold, and thousands flocked to California in search of agricultural opportunities: cheap fertile land, cash crops, plentiful jobs, stable work. Migrants were the new miners, but the outcome was similar: a few made a fortune while most failed to achieve the new life they dreamed of. 

In the 1910-1930’s, the film industry was the feature attraction, and thousands more uprooted themselves and came to “Fame Mountain,” hoping for their own discovery and stardom. At Paramount Studios, hundreds of people would stand outside the main gate each day, waiting for a chance to be cast in a movie. “If Clara Bow, who won a movie magazine contest to get her first part, could become a star, why can’t I?” Nearly all were unsuccessful and ended up working odd jobs just to buy food and pay rent, while the studios raked in huge ticket sales. But the dream grew, as a few went on to become true celebrities, recognized around the world. 

After World War II, aerospace and defense contractors and workers flooded California, which had become a prime beneficiary of the Cold War. They were seeking high-paying jobs believed to be in high demand, and in this case, many more actually achieved their dreams. Soon, the state was the center of a suburban boom, as home ownership became the latest shiny object for the speculators. 

In the 1980’s and 90’s, innovation was the new gold, and hundreds of thousands moved to work in the tech industry, especially Silicon Valley. Some of the largest and most profitable companies in history resulted from these technological discoveries, and designers, programmers, and financiers struck it rich. The allure of California, its opportunities for stardom, success, prosperity and a new and better life, continued to be powerful.

California burst onto my personal scene in 1978. Before then, for me, as for so many of the 49ers, California had been a myth; I had lots of images of the state from movies, TV shows, and books (think 77 Sunset Strip, Dragnet, Mod Squad, Beach Blanket Bingo, The Graduate) but no real sense of the place. Then, after one year of marriage, Dianne and I embarked on a cross-country trip enroute to Portland, Oregon, and a summer internship as part of my graduate studies. I was anxious to see the West Coast, and it didn’t disappoint. Imagine wading in the Pacific surf in LA, walking the beach in Malibu, camping in Morro Bay, touring San Luis Obispo, brunch at the Top of the Mark in San Francisco, and a walk through Redwood National Park. My California dream was now real. 

The state really became part of my life during the technology boom of the 1980’s. As personal computers and other devices were being invented in California, I started a software consulting and sales company, Advanced Data Systems, in Richmond, and a key component in the company was a portable terminal and bar code reader made by MSI Data Corporation, headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. This business relationship led to a number of trips to California, clients in LA and San Fran, trade shows in the state, and many relationships with Californians. Innovation in California provided opportunities for me, just as it had for so many.

Later, California beckoned to our son, David, as he left for San Francisco after college and his first job in New York City. Living in SF, Oakland, and later San Jose, David, too, was part of the tech boom in the state, writing for Wired magazine, interviewing tech experts and business leaders, soaking up the prevalent culture of possibility. Traveling to see him, we became more familiar, and more entranced, with the state, particularly its major cities, their culture and their architecture.

Our current trip has given us the opportunity to discover and enjoy an even wider array of the allure of California: its natural beauty, its amazing national parks, its stunning coastline, its cosmopolitan culture, and its super-cool architecture. I suspect that the Golden State will pull us westward for many more trips.