Uploaded June 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Most people who know the history of California know of the 1848 gold find at Sutter's Mill that started the gold rush, but 6 years earlier the real first documented find of gold happened in what would become the state, just outside of Los Angeles in Placerita Canyon.
Legend has it that Francisco Lopez decided to take a nap under an oak tree, and as he laid there he dreamt of floating on a pool of gold, when he woke up he pulled some wild onions from the ground, and there in the roots he found gold. The tree that Lopez was said to have slept under became known as the Oak of the Golden Dream and is now a historic landmark. But did this happen?
While Lopez did find gold, the story of the oak and the dream evolved over time, first appearing nearly 100 years after the find. In this video we head to the Oak of the Golden Dream and take a look at it's myth.
All of the hard work of figuring out where the original monument was located was done by ElsmereCanyon.com and all credit goes to them for their work. Check out their great article on locating the original site: elsmerecanyon.com/placerita/goldsite/goldsite.htm
Another invaluable resource when researching this video was SCVHistory.com.
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►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: instagram.com/sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a 60 day free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
Most people who know the history of California know of the 1848 gold find at Sutter's Mill that started the gold rush, but 6 years earlier the real first documented find of gold happened in what would become the state, just outside of Los Angeles in Placerita Canyon.
Legend has it that Francisco Lopez decided to take a nap under an oak tree, and as he laid there he dreamt of floating on a pool of gold, when he woke up he pulled some wild onions from the ground, and there in the roots he found gold. The tree that Lopez was said to have slept under became known as the Oak of the Golden Dream and is now a historic landmark. But did this happen?
While Lopez did find gold, the story of the oak and the dream evolved over time, first appearing nearly 100 years after the find. In this video we head to the Oak of the Golden Dream and take a look at it's myth.
All of the hard work of figuring out where the original monument was located was done by ElsmereCanyon.com and all credit goes to them for their work. Check out their great article on locating the original site: elsmerecanyon.com/placerita/goldsite/goldsite.htm
Another invaluable resource when researching this video was SCVHistory.com.
○ Gear we use: amazon.com/shop/sidetrackadventures
►Please subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some of our adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCdueDRFYPVgzPAAOM_bxVWA?sub_confirmation=1
►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: instagram.com/sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a 60 day free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
