ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Maritime history of California

Okay kiddo, let's talk about the history of boats and ships in California!

A long time ago, before cars and trains, people used boats and ships to travel across the oceans and rivers. The first people to use boats in California were the native tribes who lived along the coast. They used boats made from logs or bulrushes to fish, hunt and trade.

Later on, in the 1500s, people from Europe started exploring the coast of California. They were looking for new lands and resources to bring back to their own countries. They used big sailing ships to cross the ocean and were very brave to do so!

In the 1700s, the Spanish came to California and established missions along the coast. They used ships to bring supplies and people from Mexico to California. They also used ships to trade with other countries like China and the Philippines.

In the 1800s, more and more people were moving to California to find gold or to farm the land. They came from all over the world and used ships to get here. The famous gold rush in 1849 brought thousands of people to California by ship.

As California grew, so did the need for ports and harbors to accommodate the ships. Large ports like San Francisco and San Diego were built to handle the busy trade.

Today, ships continue to play an important role in California's economy. They bring goods from all over the world to our stores and businesses. So even though we have cars and planes, we still need ships to help us get what we need.