The First Peoples of Southern California before 1775 include the Payomkawichum, Cupa, Cahuilla, and Kumeyaay. Discover how they lived before contact in ways that were rich, scientific, and sophisticated. Before the American Revolution, their world was already changing. As European powers expanded, two histories unfolded on different paths. Their story is one of resilience and resistance. They are still here, preserving their story for millennia.