It was March 9, 1842. Legend says that after herding cattle, rancher Francisco Lopez took a nap under an old oak tree. Dreaming of gold and riches, Lopez then woke up, hungry and looking for food. As the story goes, he dug up some wild onions under a nearby tree with his pocketknife. Hanging from the roots of the onions were nuggets of gold.
These findings of gold were the first documented discovery in the state. It didn’t quite cause as much of a stir as the famous California Gold Rush did in 1848, but nevertheless their findings sparked interest, particularly by those from the Los Angeles and the Mexican state of Sonora. Sonoran miners used methods such as panning, sluicing and dry washing. Many flocked to this place that was once called Live Oak Canyon. The canyon has since been renamed, and its new name, what Santa Claritans know it as, is of Spanish origin, meaning surface deposits of sand or gravel that contain gold.
From 1842 until 1847, it is said that miners discovered well over a thousand pounds of gold and is indeed the first recorded find of gold in the area. The old oak tree where Lopez took his famous nap and dreamt of gold still stands. It is now a California Historical Landmark, No. 168 to be exact. The canyon where the oak tree stands has become a backdrop for western movies featuring some of the famous actors such as John Wayne, Harry Carey and William S. Hart. Take a drive to this State Park, just off Highway 14, now operated by the county of Los Angeles. Park your vehicle, take a short little stroll down Heritage Trail, walk through the tunnels with beautiful murals and see where it all began.
Answer: I’m at the Oak of the Golden Dream in Placerita Canyon State Park.