The backbreaking work of mining gold.

Passengers in the 19th century rarely traveled for pleasure and often endured many hardships to reach the untamed West. But these were no ordinary passengers. Those who made the difficult journey were a resolute, ambitious, hopeful lot who were willing to risk everything to explore the right opportunity.

Few realize how great a role companies like APL’s predecessor, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, played in the transportation of goods and people to the shores of California. For example, while upwards of 20,000 people came to California by land in 1849, over 60,000 came by sea. And virtually everything these adventurers used or consumed had arrived by ship — including mining tools, clothing, and even French champagne for those who struck it rich.

Beginning with the 50 gold miners who boarded the steamer California in Latin America, APL and its forebears have transported thousands of immigrants over the years — people whose hard work to build new cities and railroads ultimately changed the face of the West.

Facing a future of their own making.

In fact, generations of California families have boarded ships belonging to Pacific Mail, Dollar Line, and American President Lines as the first step to a more promising future. As early as 1857, Hutching’s California Magazine described the state’s populace as a very diverse group that included Hindus, Mexicans, Germans, Russians, Chileans, Italians, Greeks, Native Americans, English, Irish, Africans, and Sandwich Islanders (Native Hawaiians). Without this rich cultural diversity, California would be the poorer.

APL no longer carries passengers today, but some of the company’s current customers are descendants of what was surely the most important “cargo” of all — the thousands of explorers to whom a new and better life beckoned.