Like many others, early Czech California pioneers went West in search of gold and opportunities. During the mid-1800’s California was a land still steeped in romantic reminders of the first Spanish population and the prospect of sudden wealth. A life of adventure beckoned there, at least from an American point of view. What adventures would await brave travelers looking up the tallest spruce-clad Sierras, and splashing into the crude gold-mining camps, losing themselves in a landscape still undisturbed by human work. Today we’re going to meet some of these first Czech pioneers to California. A few of the families which began there are still on their land, and running their family businesses today. This is an excellent chapter from a book by my friend Miloslav Rechcígl, Jr. I have added some notes, the images and links throughout. I hope you enjoy it!
I enjoyed learning about these fellow Czechs.