In 1853, a wooden crate buzzed with history—California’s first honeybees had arrived… but barely. Shipped from New York all the way around Cape Horn (yes, the bottom of South America), these East Coast bees weren’t expected to survive the brutal ocean voyage. And honestly? Most didn’t.
Months at sea, wild weather, and zero pit stops? It was a miracle any lived.
But when the ship docked in San Francisco, just enough bees from one hive were still alive to get the buzz going. They were brought south to a San Jose orchard and became the foundation of California’s honeybee population — Rancho Potrero de Santa Clara to be exact, the site of San Jose’s own Mineta International Airport!
These tiny survivors helped pollinate a blooming state and changed agriculture forever. From citrus to cherries, almonds to artichokes, California wouldn’t be the same without them.
Fast forward to the 20th century, and San Jose’s baseball team proudly took the name San Jose Bees, honoring this unique local legacy. For decades, the team carried the name of the original agricultural innovators — those tiny East Coast honeybees that made the impossible journey west.
So whether it’s on the field or in the flowers, San Jose has always been a city of unexpected champions.
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