You can get yourself some great local history with ANCHR’s new book, Ten Miles of Roadside Archaeology Along the Old Humboldt Wagon Road, by Gregory F. White, with contributions by Ron Womack, Josie Smith, David Brown, Michelle Rader and myself, Nancy Leek. The book covers a lot more than ten miles of that historic road, with chapters on
- John Bidwell’s road-building venture (by yours truly)
- the lure of the Nevada and Idaho mines
- hooligans and heroes of Ten-Mile House
- wagon ruts and rock fences and how to preserve them
- the Humboldt Road labor force, and
- Frank Bidwell Durkee’s push for the new road.
The core of the book is Greg White’s in-depth original report about his archaeological study of a ten-mile stretch of the road affected by the 2016 Santos Fire. It’s an up-close look with fascinating finds and insights.
If you are ready for a ride on the Old Humboldt Road, then look for this book, coming soon to a museum or bookstore near you.
The ANCHR team will be doing presentations at the following events:
- Saturday, Dec. 1: ANCHR Annual Meeting and Luncheon at Shelly’s Creative Catering — 11 a.m. ($20 per person for the luncheon)
- Saturday, Dec. 8: Butte County Historical Society, Ehmann Home, Oroville — 2 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 15: Chico History Museum — 10 a.m.
See you there!
goldfields 
I just went on a hike with my kids up to the old Humboldt wagon trail and showed them the picture of the wagon between the two rocks (that’s where we were). So I came home to try and find more information and saw I JUST missed a presentation and a chance to buy your book! Do you have it for sale downtown yet? I work near 3rd and Broadway, so I’d live to pick up a copy!
Hi Brian– ANCHR pulled the book to make a couple of revisions, but the new edition should be ready soon. The Bookstore on Main carries ANCHR books, so you can look for it there.