At our next meeting, the club will welcome Alan Ehrgott, founding director of the  American River Conservancy and author of the recently published book The Elusive Conquest of Queen Califa.

Ehrgott spent more than 30 years leading conservation efforts in Northern California and helped protect thousands of acres of riverfront and wildlife habitat through the American River Conservancy. A conservation biologist, historian, and longtime outdoor adventurer, he is also known for a remarkable 1,200-mile backpacking journey through Baja California that inspired decades of historical research.  

During his presentation, Ehrgott will discuss his book, which blends history, historical fiction, memoir, and Indigenous storytelling to revisit the early history of California and Baja California. The book explores the origins of California’s name, the impact of Spanish exploration and missionary expansion, and the resilience of Indigenous peoples of the Baja peninsula.