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California's Gold with Huell Howser

Mt. San Jacinto

The San Jacinto Mountains are one of the most impressive natural wonders in our entire state. No other mountains on this continent rise so high so fast, in slightly less than seven horizontal miles, the peak rises from 800 to 10,804 feet above sea level! But these mountains hold another distinction as well.

They are the site of two of the greatest engineering accomplishments ever attempted by man. In this adventure, host Huell Howser first visits the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway which takes passengers from the warm desert floor to a snowy alpine environment in a matter of minutes. This tramway which opened in 1963 was constructed on such a sharp slope that it was impossible to build roads, and the only way to construct it was by helicopter. In fact, the construction of the tramway was such an engineering challenge that it has been labeled "the 8th wonder of the world," and has been designated a historical civil engineering landmark.

Huell continues his adventure by traveling to the base of the San Jacinto Mountains for a journey that is both historic and truly exciting. This trip takes him through a 13-mile tunnel dug through the mountains during the 1930s as part of the Colorado River Aqueduct which brought water to Southern California. This huge and extremely complicated engineering project still ranks as one of the most difficult ever attempted. The 16-foot tall tunnel usually flows with 1.2 billion gallons of water a day, but once every five or ten years the water is cut off for a day or so to allow an inspection. Huell takes advantage of this opportunity to explore the tunnel and also to make some unusual discoveries once inside. Whether on the top of the mountains on a tram, or under the mountains in a tunnel, Huell discovers that the San Jacinto Mountains are very much a part of California's Gold.

Support Provided By
Season
Classic Arts Showcase
25:33
Huell tours the Glendale office of Classic Arts Showcase, a free cable TV arts program.
Whistling Champ
25:55
Huell visits with the Whistling Champ Carole Anne Kaufman at her salon.
Masumoto Family Farm
28:20
Huell travels to Central California to visit the 80 acre Masumoto Family Farm.
Capitol Steps
28:32
Huell goes straight to the top: California’s Capitol Building, a stunning neoclassical gem
Tall Ship Californian
27:03
Huell sails aboard the state’s official tall ship, Californian.
Point Fermin Lighthouse Lens
28:22
Huell tracks down Point Fermin's beautiful glass Fresnel lens.
Glacier
27:07
Join Huell as he hikes high up in the Eastern Sierra to visit the Conness Glacier.
Sea Caves
25:53
Huell travels out to Santa Cruz Island to explore its famous sea caves by kayak.
Persimmons
26:12
Huell spends the day in Granite Bay California learning the ancient art of Hoshigaki.
Gold Rush Medicine
28:19
"Doctors” of the Gold Rush did the best they could to care for California's immigrants.
Oil Islands
27:44
In Long Beach, Calif., there’s a 42-acre collection of oilfield islands.
Warnors Theatre
27:22
The Warnors Theatre, a Fresno landmark that opened in 1928, houses a unique pipe organ.
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