California's Gold
Season 4
TV-G
Huell Howser travels around California looking for interesting stories about the state's rich history, cultural diversity, landmarks, natural wonders, amazing people and points of interest, especially lesser known and out-of-the-way places.
Where to Watch Season 4
12 Episodes
- Water Under PressureE1
Episode 1Water Under PressureHuell looks at two historic examples of water under pressure: first at the Malakoff Diggins State Park in the Sierra foothills, where for decades miners used tremendous water cannons to help dissolve mountains in search of precious metals. Today Huell visits a vast man-made valley that remains a testament to the power of this process. Next, Huell visits California's Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga-one of only three in the world. - Jack LondonE2
Episode 2Jack LondonExplore Beauty Ranch, once the home of one of California's most famous authors, Jack London. Now the estate is part of the Jack London State Historical Park in the Valley of the Moon in Sonoma. It is at this home that London wrote many of his most famous books, including Call of the Wild, White Fang and The Sea Wolf. - California CompaniesE3
Episode 3California CompaniesHuell takes a look at two companies that had their roots in California's gold rush. First, Huell looks at the Studebaker Car Co.-originally started as a wheelbarrow manufacturer-and visits the Studebaker Wheelbarrow Races at the El Dorado County Fair, now in their 49th year. Next, Huell tours the original plant of Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco and sees one of the first pairs of blue jeans. - Wings Over CaliforniaE4
Episode 4Wings Over CaliforniaHuell soars above our state as we look at the Pigeon Courier Service at Avalon on Catalina Island, once the most expeditious means of communication with the small island. Next, Huell visits the Twentynine Palms Air Academy, created during World War II. Huell goes up in the air with some of the original pilots at this, the largest glider school in the country. - California's State ParksE5
Episode 5California's State ParksHuell explores two of California's most interesting State Parks: the Providence Mountain State Recreation Area, located in the Eastern Mojave Desert, to see the famous Mitchell Caverns Nature Reserve; and the Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park, in the Sierra Nevadas, where we see a Miwok Indians legacy in a vast rock covered with thousands of grinding pits. - California FlowersE6
Episode 6California FlowersOne of Huell’s favorite things is when California blooms anew, bringing forth a striking display of flowers. Huell visits three places across the state where the splendor of California is in full bloom: Daffodil Hill in the Gold Country, the Ranunculas fields of Carlsbad Ranch, and the California Poppy Reserve in Antelope Valley--all amazing vistas where swaths of color stretch as far as the eye can see. - San Luis Obispo TrainE7
Episode 7San Luis Obispo TrainJoin Huell in the centennial celebration of the arrival of the first steam train to this isolated mid-coastal town. As part of the celebrations, the town's citizens have recreated the events exactly as they happened a century before. Huell passes through the historic tunnels and tressels in a period steam engine as he descends into this festive town. - Santa Barbara IslandE8
Episode 8Santa Barbara IslandHuell travels to Santa Barbara Island, one of the eight Channel Islands, to learn about the history and nature of this beautiful place from its only human resident-a ranger. Huell actually walks the perimeter of this island to get a feel for this seldom seen part of the Golden State. - Under CaliforniaE9
Episode 9Under CaliforniaJoin Huell and trace the lives of two men whose unique dreams in the early part of the century helped them to create two of our state's most amazing buried treasures. First, we visit the Underground Gardens of Baldasare Forestiere and the incredible labyrinth of tunnels, courtyards and vines. Next, we visit the Burro Schmidt Tunnel, where for 50 years an early pioneer of the Mojave dug a 2,000 foot tunnel through a mountain. - KelpE10
Episode 10KelpHuell explores one of California's biggest and most beautiful forests... one we never get to see- the incredible kelp forests off our coast. Travel with Huell from Monterey to San Diego to see how kelp grows, how it is harvested and how it finds its way into the common foods we eat. - On StageE11
Episode 11On StageHuell visits two unique outdoor California theaters with long traditions of their own. First stop is the Spreckles Organ in San Diego, the world's largest outdoor organ. Weekly summer concerts have been an event there since 1915. Then we travel to the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, where the unique art form tableaux vivants, or "living pictures," is practiced to amazing effect. - Keeping CoolE12
Episode 12Keeping CoolHuell keeps cool on this adventure. Californians have done everything imaginable to keep cool in their blistering deserts. Huell looks at two ways of cooling off: first, in the amazing old "desert submarines" in Indio, then at an honest-to-goodness oasis near Palm Springs.