Every city has a history behind its name, and Fremont is no different. If you’ve ever wondered how Fremont got its name, read on to learn more!

Have you ever wondered…

• How did Fremont get its name?
• Who was John C. Frémont?
• What five communities combined to form Fremont in 1956?

Did you know?

Happy Fourth of July, Fremont! Celebrate with your fellow citizens at the annual 4^th of July Parade. This year, the parade takes place in the Irvington district and starts promptly at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is “We the People.”

The mile-long parade route starts at State Street and Capitol Avenue. It then moves on to Paseo Padre Parkway, Walnut Avenue and California Street, before ending on Beacon Avenue. Join the thousands of families who enjoy the parade each year, and then take some time to learn a little bit about Fremont’s history.

Fremont’s recorded history dates back to June 9, 1797. On that date, Mission San José was founded by Spaniard Father Fermin de Lasuen. Of course, Native American peoples — called the Ohlone or Costanoan people — had lived in the area for hundreds of years.

Mission San José was built at the site of an Ohlone village called Oroysom. The first English-speaking visitor — famous explorer and trapper Jedediah Smith — arrived in 1827. The Mission grew over time and had almost 1,900 residents by 1831.

In the mid-1840s, American military officer and explorer John Charles Frémont (1813-1890) traveled through the area. He mapped a route through Mission Pass to guide settlers to the southeastern San Francisco Bay Area.

Known as “The Pathfinder” or “The Great Pathfinder,” Frémont returned to California after retiring from the military. He became one of the two U.S. Senators for the new state in 1850. He would become the first Republican Party nominee for President in 1856.

When Frémont first explored the West, much of the land was claimed by Mexico. Most of the people living there were Native Americans. He chose not to carry a standard U.S. flag. Instead, his wife Jessie made a flag based upon the American flag.

Her homemade flag had stripes, along with 26 stars and an eagle. The eagle’s talons held nine arrows and a peace pipe. Frémont thought Native Americans would respond better to this sign of peace than the usual olive branch. Around 1976, the City of Fremont used a variation of Frémont’s flag as a city flag.

In the 1850s, eight towns developed around Mission San José. Five of these communities — Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San José and Warm Springs — merged into the current City of Fremont on January 23, 1956.

Today, the City of Fremont displays a flag in the City Council chambers that features the seal of the city. The seal features an outline map of Fremont with five gold triangles that represent the five communities that merged to form Fremont.

Naming the new city was a bit controversial. The people of Mission San José preferred the name “Mission Valley.” The residents of the other four communities liked “Fremont.”

Wally Pond, one of Fremont’s first City Council members, settled on Fremont when he learned that a name had to be chosen in order to meet a deadline for approval of the incorporation of the new city. Eventually, everyone agreed that he made the best decision, since “Fremont” was the preference of four of the five communities.

Try it out!

Check out the National Center for Family Literacy’s online Find the Flag activity. Can you find all the flags?  As you search for the 25 American flags hidden around the city, you’ll learn interesting facts about flag history and how to display and care for the flag.

When you’re done, make your own flag! Grab some art supplies and design an original flag that represents your family. If you were to fly a flag outside your house that would show your neighborhood what your family is all about, what would it look like?

What colors would you use? Are there special colors that represent your family? For example, if your family’s ancestors came from Mexico, perhaps you could base your family flag on the colors in the Mexican flag.

What interests does your family have? Do you go camping? Do you read together? Do you play certain sports? You can use some of your interests to include images or symbols in your flag, such as a tent, a book or a soccer ball.

Take the Challenge!

Not sure about the Wonderopolis Fremont Challenge rules? Check them out before you get started!

This week’s Wonderopolis Fremont Challenge is learning about and appreciating the history of Fremont. Choose one of the following challenges for your family to complete, and then come back here to share your experience.

• Make your own flag for Fremont! What does Fremont mean to you? If you were to design a new flag for Fremont, what would it look like? Why would you choose the colors you choose? What images best represent the city?
• Visit one of Fremont’s many Historic Attractions. From Ardenwood Historic Farm and Centerville Pioneer Cemetery to Mission San José and Cemetery and Shinn Historical Park and Arboretum, Fremont offers many chances to relive its rich history. NOTE: Some Historic Attractions may have admission fees. Please check with the site you choose for any applicable fees before heading out on your adventure!
• Attend the 4^th of July Parade as a family! How many flags do you see? See who can count the most flags. What was your favorite part of the parade? How many people do you think attended the parade? Watch the news to see how many people they estimate watched the parade.

Remember: You’ll need to log in and upload something about your family’s challenge—it could be a photo, a video, a poem, an essay or whatever inspires you! As soon as you’ve completed three of the weekly Fremont Wonderopolis Challenges, you’ll be eligible for the free family trip to Washington D.C.!

Wonder words to know and use:

• trapper
• route
• pathfinder
• talon
• communities
• residents
• preference
• incorporation

Still wondering?

Ever wonder about how a flag represents a country’s people and resources or why a flag can evoke emotions? Check out National Geographic Xpeditions’ Why Do We Have an American Flag lesson to learn more!

Visit the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to see the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that would become the national anthem. The Smithsonian’s The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag That Inspired the National Anthem online exhibit features many fun and interesting resources to learn more about this unique treasure of American history.

Wonder what’s next?

Be sure to check back next week, when the Wonderopolis Fremont Challenge will take a look at a natural landmark that defines the Fremont skyline!

When it comes to natural beauty, Fremont has a lot to offer. Do you have a favorite park you like to visit? Come along as we explore the natural WONDERs of Fremont’s parks!

Have you ever wondered…

• Which Fremont park is your favorite?
• What’s so special about the Always Dream Play Park?
• Where can you go to see free concerts this summer?

Did you know?

It’s summertime in the city! Are you ready to get outside and enjoy Fremont’s beautiful parks?

Unlike many metropolitan areas, you don’t have to get out of town to enjoy Fremont’s many beautiful parks. The Centerville district and the central part of Fremont — as well as many other areas throughout Fremont — offer a wide variety of parks for its citizens to enjoy!

On January 16, 2010, Fremont’s own Olympic Gold Medal winner, Kristi Yamaguchi, opened the Always Dream Play Park. This unique playground is located in Fremont’s 450-acre Central Park and features equipment for children of all abilities.

The park was funded by Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation. Inspired by a summer camp in Hawaii, the playground is a place for all children — even those challenged by physical disabilities — to play together and learn from each other. Kids and parents alike will enjoy the one-acre park’s swings, picnic tables, water toys, sand boxes and drums!

Central Park is also home to the Central Park Summer Concert Series. From June 30 to August 11, there will be a free concert every Thursday evening from 6:30-8:30pm at the Central Park Performance Pavilion. Kids will also enjoy the bounce house and arts and crafts in a kid-friendly environment at the Kids’ Fun Zone.

Central Park is a great destination with many other great features. Have a picnic along the shore of Lake Elizabeth, an 83-acre man-made lake with beautiful scenery. Play softball, soccer or tennis. Cool off at the Aqua Adventures Waterpark. Take a nature walk in the Stivers Lagoon Nature Area.

Fremont also offers a wide variety of fantastic parks other than Central Park. Feel free to plan a family adventure to one of these fine Fremont-area parks:

• Mission Peak Regional Preserve
• Coyote Hills Regional Park
• Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area
• Niles Community Park
• Dry Creek Regional Park

Try it out!

Want to learn more about Fremont’s fabulous parks? Check out the City of Fremont’s Parks website. You can also use the City of Fremont’s Hiking website to plan a family hike on a beautiful trail!

Take the Challenge!

Not sure about the Wonderopolis Fremont Challenge rules? Check them out before you get started!

This week’s Wonderopolis Fremont Challenge is all about enjoying the wonder and beauty of Fremont’s city parks. Choose one of the following challenges for your family to complete, and then come back here to share your experience.

• Go to a summer concert in Central Park! What instruments do you see on stage? What type of music do you enjoy most?
• Visit the Always Dream Play Park. How is it different from other playgrounds you’ve visited? Did you learn anything about how people with different abilities can still enjoy playtime at the park?
• Take a hike at one of Fremont’s many parks. What types of wildlife did you see? What was your favorite part of the hike?

Remember: You’ll need to log in and upload something about your family’s challenge—it could be a photo, a video, a poem, an essay or whatever inspires you! As soon as you’ve completed three of the weekly Wonderopolis Fremont Challenges, you’ll be eligible for the free family trip to Washington, DC!

Wonder words to know and use:

• metropolitan
• variety
• citizens
• unique
• abilities
• pavilion
• instrument

Still wondering?

Explore National Geographic Xpeditions’ Our National Parks: Recreation and Preservation lesson to learn more about the National Park System in the United States.

Wonder what’s next?

What’s in a name? How did Fremont come to be? Explore these questions and the history of Fremont next week!

California — and especially Hollywood — has long been known as the heart of the motion picture industry. But did you know that Fremont was once the center of the movie industry?

Have you ever wondered…

• Why Has the Niles District of Fremont Sometimes Been Called ‘The First Hollywood’?
• Who were Charlie Chaplin and “Broncho Billy”?
• What can you see at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum?

Did you know?

Welcome to the Niles district of Fremont! Did you know that this area was once the home of some of the first stars of the silver — and silent! — screen?

It’s true! On April 1, 1912, the 52 members of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company arrived in the small town of Niles, California (population: 1,400) on a train.

The motion picture industry was just beginning and, by 1912, moving pictures were taking the nation by storm. People in Niles loved to watch movies every week at Conners Hall on Front Street (now Niles Boulevard).

They recognized many of the actors by sight, but there was one they knew by name: Gilbert M. “Broncho Billy” Anderson. “Broncho Billy” was the world’s first western movie star. In addition to acting, he also did almost everything else on his movies, from writing and directing to producing and editing.

By the time George K. Spoor and “Broncho Billy” Anderson (the “S” and the “A” of Essanay) got to Niles, they had already made over 200 films. They found the town very welcoming and soon started construction on a movie studio. On June 11, 1913, director Lloyd Ingraham produced the first film at the new studio.

Every week, the new studio would produce at least two — and sometimes as many as four or five — new 15-minute films. These short, silent films were called “one-reelers.” “Talking” pictures wouldn’t begin until the late 1920s.

The whole town of Niles got into the spirit of making these films. Many local residents became frequent part-time actors. Movie makers would also often ask people to provide props to use in movies. One movie maker once even borrowed a six-month-old baby!

Early on, each film cost about $800 to make. Many of the films would make as much as $15,000. All that changed in December 1914, though, when Essanay signed movie star Charlie Chaplin.

Chaplin was arguably the most creative and popular movie star of the silent-film era. His most famous role was “The Tramp,” which he played in many different films. Compared to the $15,000 that many other films made, Chaplin’s films made up to $125,000 each.

It was only a year later — December 1915 — that Charlie Chaplin moved on to a bigger studio. Facing competition from new, larger studios, the Niles Essanay studio was forced to shut down only a few months later, marking the end of an era in Niles history.

Today, you can relive the legends of the silver screen, the silent-film era and the works of “Broncho Billy” and Charlie Chaplin with a visit to the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum. The museum sits on the site of the old Niles Essanay Studios and shows silent films each week.

Recently, the museum worked with Google to make an animated “Google doodle” featured on the Google.com homepage on April 15, 2011, to celebrate Charlie Chaplin’s 122^nd birthday.

Try it out!

If you’ve never been to the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, check out its website online. You’ll learn more about the history of the silent-film era in Niles. You can also take a virtual tour of old silent-film posters!

Take the Challenge!

Not sure about the Wonderopolis Fremont Challenge rules? Check them out before you get started!

This week’s Wonderopolis Fremont Challenge is all about enjoying the wonder and beauty of silent films. Choose one of the following challenges for your family to complete, and then come back here to share your experience.

• Visit the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum and watch a classic silent film. NOTE: Admission fee is $5.
• Watch a silent film with your family at home. You can borrow one from a local library or rent one from a video vendor.
• Make your own silent film! First, figure out what short story you want to tell. Then write some notes to use as a script. How many actors will you need? Who will play what role? Finally, using a video camera or a phone that can record video, record your movie!

Remember: You’ll need to log in and upload something about your family’s challenge—it could be a photo, a video, a poem, an essay or whatever inspires you! As soon as you’ve completed three of the weekly Fremont Wonderopolis Challenges, you’ll be eligible for the free family trip to Washington D.C.!

Wonder words to know and use:

• industry
• directing
• producing
• editing
• props
• era

Still wondering?

Interested in movies? Be sure to check out Thinkfinity’s Museum of the Moving Image feature, which highlights the only museum dedicated to the art and industry of all of screen culture, from the earliest silent films to today’s video games.

Wonder what’s next?

Next week’s Wonderopolis Fremont Challenge will get you outdoors to explore the natural beauty of Fremont!

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