Date of Award

1995

Document Type

Thesis: Open Access

Degree Name

MA History

Department

History

Committee Chair

Professor Raymond S. Brandes, Chairman

Committee Member

Professor Iris H. W. Engstrand

Abstract

If one follows the Salinas River from its source in the mountains of Santa Barbara north to where it pours into the Monterey Bay, one comes across many settlements along its banks. Such a settlement is San Lucas. With a population of fewer than 500 and little industry the town has been left to wither away in sun baked South Monterey County. This had not always been the case, however, for San Lucas. Over one hundred years ago the settlement was paramount to Southern Monterey County. Once the hub of economic activity in this region, San Lucas boasted of many accomplishments. The town had the largest railroad depot in the valley south of Salinas, a baseball team , an opera house, several saloons, a newspaper, a hotel, two general stores, and over 22 separate businesses.1 San Lucas participated in the movie industry of early Hollywood and almost became a major water recreation area with the creation of the San Lucas Dam. Today, however, San Lucas represents many false hopes and broken dreams. With the pulse of commerce gone, the town now lies exhausted in reflection of an active past.

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