California is a world-class destination for all sorts of travelers—including history buffs. Visitors can find rich historical gems in surprising and delightful ways, from hidden plaques in San Francisco's Portsmouth Square and Chinatown to Angels Flight, a still-operating funicular in downtown Los Angeles that dates back to 1901.
Many California cities can trace their roots back to Native peoples, European explorers, the Gold Rush, and a melting pot of cultures that blended over hundreds of years. On this episode of the California Now Podcast, host Soterios Johnson delves into that history in three iconic California cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Johnson starts out in the City by the Bay, connecting with author and San Francisco historian Gary Kamiya about how the city has played host to bootleggers, the Beat Generation, and everything in between. Next, Johnson speaks with Robert Petersen, host of the Hidden History of Los Angeles podcast, about some little-known aspects of La-La Land culture—including everything from Walt Disney’s favorite haunts to peacock crossings in Arcadia. Finally, Johnson talks to Bill Lawrence, president and CEO of the San Diego History Center, about how the confluence of San Diego's Spanish settlers, the military, science, and popular culture make for a fascinating history lesson—and a one-of-a-kind sightseeing experience.
Guests
Gary Kamiya, author of Cool Gray City of Love and Spirits of San Francisco: Voyages Through the Unknown City
Robert Petersen, host of the Hidden History of Los Angeles podcast
Bill Lawrence, president and CEO of the San Diego History Center
Resources
Gold Rush–era buildings, iconic restaurants, and “Frisky Whisky” are just a few of the historic aspects of San Francisco, according to author and historian Gary Kamiya.
San Francisco
Lombard Street
San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts
Portsmouth Square
Chinatown San Francisco
Mission Dolores
Jackson Square Historic District
North Beach
The Place
Caffe Trieste
City Lights Books
Coit Tower
Whether you're a fan of Walt Disney or Charles Bukowski, Los Angeles offers plenty of ways to immerse yourself in the city's history, says Robert Petersen.
Los Angeles
Arcadia
Angels Flight Railway
Rodeo Drive
Gelson's Supermarket
Charlotte and Robert Disney House
Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round
Tam O'Shanter Restaurant
Grand Central Market
Bradbury Building
The King Eddy Saloon
Esotouric Tours
Haunts of a Dirty Old Man Tour
Lost LA
Innovation and reinvention are two common themes connecting present-day San Diego to the past, according to Bill Lawrence, president and CEO of the San Diego History Center.
San Diego
San Diego History Center
San Diego Presidio
The Junípero Serra Museum
Balboa Park
Barona Cultural Center & Museum
Cabrillo National Monument
Point Loma
Maritime Museum of San Diego
USS Midway Museum
Liberty Station
USS Recruit
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Museum
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Salk Institute
About the Host
Soterios Johnson, formerly the local host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition on radio station WNYC, moved from New York City to Davis in 2016. By combining his journalistic instincts with his personal curiosity, Johnson will use the California Now Podcast platform to develop a deeper understanding of his adopted home.