Long before being ‘discovered,’ the place now known as California was a land of diverse peoples with deep histories and cultures. In this course, we will seek to dig into the stories at root in California, with a focus on the Bay Area. We will look topics such as: the Indigenous populations who predated settlers; the impact of colonization on both people & nature; the expansion of this system under the Gold Rush; the powerful impact of Black communities on the area; the long history & impact of Latinos/Hispanics & Asian culture; and the ways that the Bay has offered a home for counterculture challenges to dominant values. This course is designed with local voices and histories, aiming to allow us all to better know where we are living.