The land’s natural beauty is even enough to excuse the two lane “highway” often filled with snail-paced sightseers.As you drive past the rolling, golden countryside of Sonoma County, the endless, undulating hills and valleys of lush green vineyards mask a deep history. Long before world famous grapes grew here, ages before Mexican soldiers camped here and the Padres established Mission San Francisco Solano here, this area was home to countless Native Americans.
For thousands of years, Native Americans (Wappo, Pomo, Miwok, Cainameros, and Satisyomis tribes among others) settled in the Sonoma area which reaches from the Pacific Ocean teeming with fish, oysters, crabs, and more, through the Russian River valley which is abundant with vegetation.
From the mid-1500s through the mid-1800s, the Spanish, English, Russians, Mexicans, and Americans laid claim to parts of Sonoma. Ultimately (as we all know), the United States gained control of the area and California became the 31st state in 1850.
While the loss of the ancient Native American cultures and traditions is deeply regrettable and tragic, their past is not entirely forgotten. A little digging beneath the twisted grapevines of wine country reveals a rich history filled with intriguing (and disturbing) tales of humanity’s growth, struggles, perseverance, and spirituality.
Sources:
http://www.kstrom.net/isk/art/basket/pomohist.html
http://boxer.senate.gov/nah/tribe_group.cfm#UTO
http://ceres.ca.gov/nahc/califindian.html
http://www.sonomacountyrealestate.us/living/sonoma/history/
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=479
Sonoma State Historic Park Brochure
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