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Self-taught documentarian Ray Olson is back with another edition of his inspirational travel series “Humboldt Outdoors.”

In today’s episode, Olson embarks on a journey through time to teach us about the history of Earth Day, which was celebrated for the first time on this day in 1970.

One year earlier, in January of 1969, the Santa Barbara oil spill ravaged the southern California coast, spewing an estimated three million gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean. The massive oil spill killed thousands of sea birds and marine animals such as dolphins, elephant seals, and sea lions.

“It wreaked dreadful environmental havoc on the entire coast in that area, all the way down to Ventura,” Olson explains. “A U.S. senator named Gaylord Nelson decided to come out and see all the devastation for himself and it is said that while he was there on the coast checking out this oil spill, he was so impacted by the devastation that it had caused he came up with the idea of Earth Day.”

Watch the full video to learn more about the history of Earth Day and the birth of the modern environmental movement. And when you’re done, get outside and show Mama Nature some love by planting some of your favorite native plant species or by simply hugging a tree.

Happy Earth Day, Humboldt!

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