Along the California Trail

This program is part of the 11th Annual Western History Symposium presented by the Sharlot Hall Museum.

An ancient set of Indian paths and the natural flow of the Gila River created a major artery for travel through Arizona. The Gila provided a ready route for the earliest traders, including Toltecs of Mexico, who traded with the Mogollon, Anasazi and Hohokam. This program focuses on the varied travelers along this route—their struggles, stories and fates. It also explores the legacies these explorers left. The journals, stories, songs and art that came from these travels is rich and revealing of our state’s explorers and citizens.

Jay Craváth is a composer, musician, writer, and scholar in the field of music and Indigenous studies. He holds a Ph.D. from Arizona State University in curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis on cultural education. He crafts programs built on his interests, creating interactive experiences that include stories, musical performances, illustrations and photography. His most recent publication is The Mohave Book for Little Ones. Craváth currently serves as the Cultural Director for the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe.