California | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/california/RSS feed for CaliforniaenThu, 24 Jul 2025 16:05:00 +0000Los Angeles' 1936 'Bum Blockade' Targeted American Migrants Fleeing Poverty and Drought During the Great Depressionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/los-angeles-1936-bum-blockade-targeted-american-migrants-fleeing-poverty-and-drought-during-the-great-depression-180987022/The two-month patrol stopped supposedly "suspicious" individuals from crossing into California from other states. But its execution was uneven, and the initiative proved controversialThu, 24 Jul 2025 16:05:00 +0000A California Gull Hitched a Ride on a Garbage Truck and Took an 80-Mile Journey to a Compost Facility. Then It Happened Againhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-california-gull-hitched-a-ride-on-a-garbage-truck-and-took-an-80-mile-journey-to-a-compost-facility-then-it-happened-again-180986979/GPS tracking data showed the bird zooming across bridges and interstates at 60 miles per hour on two occasions in 2018Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:31:00 +0000The Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After the Devastating Palisades Firehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-getty-villa-reopens-six-months-after-the-devastating-palisades-fire-180986905/The iconic Los Angeles venue is welcoming visitors back with a new exhibition featuring artworks and artifacts from ancient GreeceTue, 08 Jul 2025 20:49:34 +0000Why the Ancient Craft of Dry Stone Walling Still Holds So Much Appeal in the 21st Centuryhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/ancient-craft-dry-stone-walling-still-holds-appeal-21st-century-180986807/Artisans around the world are ditching the mortar and embracing an old method of building rock wallsTue, 01 Jul 2025 11:00:00 +0000Wild Pigs Are Causing Big Problems in California's Bay Area, and Their Population Seems to Be Growinghttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wild-pigs-are-causing-big-problems-in-californias-bay-area-and-their-population-seems-to-be-growing-180986798/Land managers and other authorities are ramping up efforts to trap and kill the destructive, non-native animalsFri, 13 Jun 2025 18:10:44 +0000The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2025https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-15-best-small-towns-to-visit-in-2025-180986681/From a barbecue capital in Texas to the site of the first offensive victory for American forces in the Revolutionary War in New York, these spots are worthy of a visit this yearMon, 09 Jun 2025 19:05:45 +0000See a Lost U.S. Navy Submarine, Sunk During a World War I Test Run, in Digital Detailhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-a-lost-us-navy-submarine-sunk-during-a-wwi-test-run-in-digital-detail-180986690/Researchers descended to the wreck in underwater vehicles to collect data for 3-D modelsTue, 27 May 2025 18:36:03 +0000California's Hummingbirds Have Changed Their Beaks in Response to Backyard Feeders, Study Findshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/californias-hummingbirds-have-changed-their-beaks-in-response-to-backyard-feeders-study-finds-180986693/With plenty of artificial nectar available, Anna’s hummingbirds have expanded their range northward and their beaks have tended to become longer and largerTue, 27 May 2025 18:19:20 +0000