Author: Rick Rockwell
Chief Solano: Sem-Yeto and the Story Behind Solano County’s Name
Chief Solano is one of those California figures whose name is everywhere in the North Bay, but whose story is often misunderstood. People see the name attached to Solano County, Mission San Francisco Solano, Suisun Valley, local statues, historical plaques, and old California stories. But that also creates confusion. Was Chief Solano the...
The Butler Claim: Is There Still Immense Sums of Buried Gold?
When it comes to legends of buried gold or lost treasure, the Butler Claim is one of those tales that seems to have eternal life. Generations of treasure hunters have searched for Butler’s buried fortune since the 1850s. As of this writing, nobody has found the “immense sums” of buried gold that was left behind after Butler...
Kingston, California: The Ghost Town Remembered for the Vasquez Robbery
Kingston was a river town that grew out of necessity only to disappear just as quickly as it rose to prominence. Nowadays, all that’s left of this ghost town are a few trees, cement remnants of an infrastructure, a historic marker, a seasonal park and the whispers of its heyday. However, where many California ghost towns quietly...
“The Greatest Robbery of the Century”: John Winters’ Selby Heist
In the summer of 1901, a former refinery worker named John “Jack” Winters, also known as “Buck Taylor,” staged one of the boldest gold thefts in American history. In the predawn hours of August 5, he penetrated the vault of the Selby Smelting Works on Carquinez Strait in Contra Costa County and made off with …...
The John Marsh House: Stone, Style, and the Story of Early California
Rising from a peaceful setting east of Mount Diablo, is a picturesque landmark of California’s frontier era that encompasses more than just 3,000 acres, it also doubles as a window to the 1850s with its pristine grounds and remarkable house built with stone, style and love. The John Marsh House, affectionately known as the Stone...
John Marsh: Physician, Ranchero, and His Buried Treasure
Dr. John Marsh (June 5, 1799 – September 24, 1856), later known as Don Juan Marsh, was a man of many firsts. He was the first American-born permanent settler in Contra Costa County, the first California doctor to practice Western medicine, and an instrumental figure in the movement to incorporate California into statehood. Marsh’s...
California’s Haunted Hotels: Where to Check In… and Not Sleep!
There’s something unforgettable about staying in California’s historic hotels—the creak of old staircases, the charm of another era, and the scent of ocean air or towering redwoods. But some of these places offer more than just history. Across the state, many of the most haunted hotels in California are known not only for their...
Lover’s Leap in California: The Story Behind the El Dorado County Landmark
For anyone who’s traveled along Highway 50 to or from Lake Tahoe, Lover’s Leap is an unmistakable landmark that jumps out from the Eldorado National Forest on the south side of the river as if it were waving to a friend passing by. This granite cliff is not only a magnificent scenic location just above …...
The Most Frightening California Ghost Stories and Apparitions
California’s history is rich with a diverse mixture of cultures, religions, and traditions, all of which have left their mark on the state in one form or another. So, whether you’re a true believer in the paranormal or just a curious thrill-seeker, exploring California’s urban legends about ghosts and apparitions is like stepping...
California’s Most Haunted Highways and Roads
From ungodly monsters to terrifying spirits rooted in regional lore, this state is filled with some of the most haunted highways and roads ever traveled. Although these pathways might not lead you directly to hell, California’s Urban Legends warn that the following haunted roads and highways are a one-way ticket to the devil’s...
