Early on Monday morning, April 17, 1939, a caravan consisting of two 35-passenger school buses, five cars, and a luggage truck departed Mendocino with 100 Mendocino High School students, teachers, and several adult chaperones. In addition to the faculty, the group included Miss Chilquist, the school nurse, along with Mrs. Chester Bishop, Mrs. Vernie Brown, George Lamb, and William Conley. Their destination was the San Francisco Bay Area, and the trip was carefully planned to provide not just entertainment, but a rich and varied educational experience. For just $7.50 per student, the itinerary promised four unforgettable days filled with exploration, learning, and cultural enrichment.
Mendocino High School Faculty and Students at Treasure Island, 1939. (Gabriel Moulin Studios)
The highlight of the trip was two full days spent at the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island. This World’s Fair showcased both the modern and the exotic, and the students enjoyed guided tours of the fairgrounds and numerous exhibits. Among the technological wonders were General Electric’s “House of Magic” demonstrations, which featured innovations like solar power, voice-controlled trains, and magnetic levitation. Other standout exhibits included early television displays and Bell Labs’ “Voder,” a groundbreaking attempt to synthesize human speech. The students also visited the Palace of Fine Arts, the Federal Theatre, Chinese and Scottish villages, and an array of international pavilions. Of all the attractions, the Cavalcade of the Golden West stood out. This dramatic outdoor pageant, performed on a vast 250-foot stage, used music, dance, historical reenactments, and elaborate staging to tell the story of California and the American West. Featuring ships, trains, covered wagons, and a large cast, it left a lasting impression on everyone who saw it.
Outside the Exposition, the group toured many landmarks in San Francisco and the East Bay. Their itinerary included stops at the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, Fleishhacker Zoo (now the San Francisco Zoo), Chinatown, downtown Oakland, the Carquinez Bridge, Lake Merritt, and the Mare Island Navy Yard. They also enjoyed a special dinner in Chinatown and attended a San Francisco theater performance. For three nights, the group stayed at the Olympic Hotel, where the management praised the students for their excellent behavior.
On Thursday evening, the group returned home to Mendocino, tired but elated. Students described the excursion as the most memorable educational experience of their school years. A full reel of film shot by faculty members Mr. Parsons and Mr. Forney documented the trip and was later shown in the high school auditorium. Much credit was given to the faculty and chaperones whose careful planning and leadership made the journey so successful.
Photo: Mendocino High School Faculty and Students at Treasure Island, 1939. (Gabriel Moulin Studios)
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