First Successful Introduction of the Honeybee to California in San Jose, California

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First Successful Introduction of the Honeybee to California


California State Historical Marker, Santa Clara County

	San Jose Municipal Airport, 1661 Airport Blvd, San Jose, CA, USA

	Here, on the 1,939-acre Rancho Potrero de Santa Clara, Christopher A. Shelton in early March 1853 introduced the honeybee to California. In Aspinwall, Panama, Shelton purchased 12 beehives from a New Yorker and transported them by rail, 'bongo,' pack mule, and steamship to San Francisco. Only enough bees survived to fill one hive, but these quickly propagated, laying the foundation for California's modern bee-keeping industry. Last updated: 11/11/2009 11:05:23

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