A delightfully revisionist history, The Making of American California chronicles the exploits of key explorers instrumental in the European discovery of America and California, and the presence of God in their lives. It goes on to discuss Spanish and Russian domination of California, the arrival of the pioneers, the Gold Rush, the rise of Protestant churches, and the amalgamation of California into the Union. Throughout, special emphasis is placed on the Providential nature of the events that led to the discovery, population, and taming of the state. Timelines, maps, facsimile reproductions of source documents, and a fairly extensive bibliography make this a good reference tool for one of the largest and most famous states.