Upper Soda Springs

Upper Soda Springs is on the banks of the Sacramento River in Dunsmuir, California, USA. It consists of approximately ten acres (40,000 m²) of level ground on both sides of the River, the surrounding hillsides, and continues north along the eastern bank of the Sacramento River to the Dunsmuir City Park. The State of California and the City of Dunsmuir are creating a new park on this historic site. The Upper Soda Springs site contains a riparian ecosystem and includes its namesake mineral water springs. In large part because of its location on the Siskiyou Trail, the site mirrors the history of the state and of the American West.

Before the California Gold Rush

Before the California Gold Rush, the site had no permanent inhabitants. The nearest inhabitants, members of the Okwanuchu tribe, used the site as a temporary campground during the annual salmon fishing season. Another nearby tribe, the Wintu, likely did not have regular habitation sites this far north along the Sacramento.

The first European or American visitors in the area were likely hunters and trappers, including Hudson's Bay Company hunting and trapping parties headed by Michel Laframboise, coming down from the Pacific Northwest during the 1820s-30s. As early as the 1830s, a pioneer cattle drive led by Ewing Young, along what was to become known as the Siskiyou Trail from Mexican-controlled California to settlements in Oregon, stopped at Upper Soda Springs. In 1841, an overland party of the United States Exploring Expedition with cartographers and botanists entered the upper Sacramento River canyon, and recorded visits to mineral springs sites on the upper Sacramento River, including passing through Upper Soda Springs.

During and after the Gold Rush

The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848, brought the Forty-Niners to California in search of riches during the California Gold Rush. For the next ten years, these prospectors spread from the original Gold Country region of the Sierra Nevada throughout the state. Discovery of gold near Yreka, California in 1851 greatly increased the traffic between California's Central Valley and Yreka, and north into Oregon and Washington.

Packers with mule trains joined the prospectors heading north, following existing Native American foot trails through rugged mountains, including the Sacramento River canyon. A rustic wayside hostel for these travelers was the first permanent habitation on the site, established in the early 1850s. During this same time, a band of Wintu, fleeing the predation of the Forty-Niners on the Trinity River, crossed the mountains, and settled near the springs.

" was first given to a colorful local fish species by Elda McCloud, the daughter of Ross and Mary McCloud.

The arrival of the Central Pacific railroad in 1886 heralded still further expansion of the inn. Now known as the Upper Soda Springs Resort, it was a destination for well-to-do Victorian Era travelers who would come to "take the waters" at the mineral springs.

With the increasing popularity of the automobile in the 20th century, vacation tastes changed, and the Resort closed by 1920. The property was subdivided, and became private residences and businesses.

Modern era

Beginning in the late 1990s, through public and private efforts, riverside parcels of the historic Upper Soda Springs Resort property were acquired and dedicated to park land. Sections of the site have been restored and further work is planned.

References

* [http://www.museumsiskiyoutrail.org Museum of the Siskiyou Trail]
* [http://www.geocities.com/uppersodaphotos Photos of the original site and further information;]
* [http://www.uppersodasprings.org More detailed history;]
* [http://www.geocities.com/uppersodasprings/upper_soda_springs.html?1118597300531 Upper Soda Springs website;]
* [http://www.siskiyous.edu/shasta/art/ind.htm College of the Siskiyous website] ;
* [http://www.siskiyous.edu/shasta/lit/mil/jmill8.htm College of the Siskiyous website] ;
* [http://www.siskiyous.edu/shasta/nat/sha/ter.htm College of the Siskiyous website] ;
* [http://www.siskiyous.edu/Library/Shasta/SCIENCE/hard%20winter.htm College of the Siskiyous website]
* [http://www.siskiyouhistory.org/1850.html Siskiyou County Historical Society website] ;
* [http://aycsnetwork.com/CASTELLAMINERS.htm Upper Sacramento miners]
* [http://www.californiaprehistory.com/tribmap.html Okwanuchu information;]
* [http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/usexex/ United States Exploring Expedition;]
* [http://www.siskiyous.edu/shasta/art/e40.htm United States Exploring Expedition;]
* [http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/usexex/navigation/NarrativePages/usexex19_05b.cfm?start=292 U.S. Exploring Expedition's visit to Soda Spring;]
* [http://cantaratrustees.org/reports/1999/99report.html Park funding] ;
* [http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlsr/Coverage/2001-054.pdf Park funding] ;
* [http://web.redding.com/newsarchive/20010713lo003.shtml Further Park information] ;
* [http://web.redding.com/newsarchive/20010302lo008.shtml Further Park information] ;
* [http://www.canvocta.org/routes/route_OregonToCalifornia.html Stagecoach roads] ;
* [http://www.cagenweb.com/shasta/1881directory.html Shasta County History] ;
* [http://www.catalog.co.siskiyou.ca.us/community/10000097ab.html] ;
* [http://www.shastahome.org/dunsmuir.htm Dunsmuir information] ;
* [http://www.studiolarz.com/dunsmuir/yj.html References from "My Playhouse Was A Concord Coach"] ;
* [http://www.cagenweb.com/archives/directories/siskiyou/1885siskiyou2.htm Reference in 1885 County Directory] ;
* [http://www.santacruzflyfishermen.org/scff69/Bait4Thot.html Dolly Varden;]
* [http://stevenojai.tripod.com/dollvard.htm Dolly Varden] ;