Santa Cruz Island: A History of Conflict and Diversity

About this book

Rising from the waters of the Pacific off the southern California Coast Santa Cruz Island captures the imagination. Once home to a large Chumash population in the nineteenth century it became a self-sufficient island rancho. As with all islands of beauty and size it attracted people from the coastline. But as author John Gherini tells us in his prologue: The attractions of the island however routinely led people into conflict wrapping it in a shroud like its morning fog. The modern history of the island would witness the passion to own it to protect it to use it and to fight over it. For the first time a thorough history of Santa Cruz Islands tumultuous past is provided. In pre-Columbian times it was a source of wealth to the indigenous peoplesthe place where they made their shell bead money. During the Spanish-Mexican period it was a smugglers haven where fur hunters avoided the customs officials. As a land grant it passed through the hands of Andres Castillero William E. Barron and eventually was purchased by Justinian Caire. The island flourished under the direction of Caire and his family. It was a secluded paradise off the Santa Barbara Coast with extensive sheep and cattle holdings as well as an esteemed winery. Seeds of conflict were sown by Justinian Caires will when the island was divided between family members. The Stantons Rossis Gherinis the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy all were involved over time. The tortured legal and family disputes are recounted for the first time in this important new work. Island ranching hunting and recreation and environmental challenges are described in detail. Recent historical events involving the establishment of the Channel Islands National Park are explored as well. A handsome volume with notes appendix bibliography and index. Embellished with thirty-six photographs and maps from the authors family archives.