Recently in California Category
I went on a school field trip today to the Wells Fargo history of the Gold Rush Museum in downtown Los Angeles (located in the Wells Fargo building on 3rd and Grand, across the street from MOCA).
Having grown up in New York, I know little about the gold rush -- and I have to confess there was a lot to learn here, including seeing an actual stagecoach, and learning exactly what traveling to the West entailed. I also learned about Black Bart, the man who managed to rob 29 stagecoaches in 8 years, and who was finally apprehended by Wells Fargo detectives who tracked him down through the laundry mark on a handkerchief he left at the scene of a crime. I also saw several examplars of gold nuggets and how the miners panned for them.
Although it would be in my nature to be find fault with Wells Fargo's self-promotion in this matter, I didn't take offense. Their story is a great window into California history. Turns out they have several history museums set up throughout the state (in Sacramento, and San Diego as well).
Makes we want to head up north during Spring break and see Sutter's Mill. Actually given the current price of gold, panning may not be such a bad idea for a way to spend my daughter's next vacation.
Having grown up in New York, I know little about the gold rush -- and I have to confess there was a lot to learn here, including seeing an actual stagecoach, and learning exactly what traveling to the West entailed. I also learned about Black Bart, the man who managed to rob 29 stagecoaches in 8 years, and who was finally apprehended by Wells Fargo detectives who tracked him down through the laundry mark on a handkerchief he left at the scene of a crime. I also saw several examplars of gold nuggets and how the miners panned for them.
Although it would be in my nature to be find fault with Wells Fargo's self-promotion in this matter, I didn't take offense. Their story is a great window into California history. Turns out they have several history museums set up throughout the state (in Sacramento, and San Diego as well).
Makes we want to head up north during Spring break and see Sutter's Mill. Actually given the current price of gold, panning may not be such a bad idea for a way to spend my daughter's next vacation.
Genius comes in many forms. Richard
Knerr, is the man who brought to the world (he didn't invent, he
marketed) such products as the Hula Hoop, the Frisbee, SuperBall, the
Slip 'N Slide, and Silly String. Simply put: Are these not essential
artifacts of our times? Doesn't the mere mention of them trigger happy
memories, childhood associations -- don't they automatically bring a
smile to your face? Knerr was a California native -- which makes
perfect sense given that California
is the state of self-invention, endless summer, and perpetual childhood
where people make industries of their childhood dreams -- Knerr
with a childhood friend, nicknamed "Spud" resisted their father's
entreaties to go into family businesses and instead started by
manufacturing Slingshots -- the sound of which they described as
"Wham-O."
For the NYTimes obit click here.
For the NYTimes obit click here.
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