Vicki Drake will speak about how the California gold rush all began; how people came from all around the world to create a melting pot; the personal stories of the trials and triumphs; and impact it all had on the California known today. Drake is a geology instructor with Santa Monica College and is a member of the Santa Monica College speakers bureau. The lecture will start at 6:30 p.m.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 2, 2006. Read the original PDF.