Step into early California through the life of William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr.—a trailblazing entrepreneur, San Francisco founding father, and one of the first Black millionaires in U.S. history.

Portrayed by James Armstead, this engaging Chautauqua performance brings to life his rise from global trade to political influence during the final days of Mexican rule—accomplishing it all in just eight remarkable years.

What is Chautauqua?

The Chautauqua gets its name for its area of origin, Chautauqua, New York, and is modeled after the entertainment of the 19th century in which performers enact the life of a celebrated historical figure. In the 20th century it became a three-part performance by a scholar-actor who portrays the character and responds to audience questions in character. Finally, the performer returns to answer more questions from the audience. It is fun, participatory history!

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