San Bernardino County
historic landmarks are recognized for their significance in the region's growth.
Buildings to locations are usually marked by signage when you visit them. Though
the items that describe the reasons for their significance may no longer exist,
the reason these sites are important are listed below.
NO. 1019 KIMBERLY CREST - Kimberly Crest, constructed in
1897, is an excellent example of Chateauesque architecture. Near the residence
is a Chateauesque-style carriage house. Terraced Italian gardens designed
in 1908 stretch almost a thousand yards from the entrance of the residence
down to the entrance of the grounds.
Location: 1325 Prospect Dr, Redlands
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places: NPS-96000328
NO. 121 AGUA MANSA - Don Juan Bandini, owner of the Jurupa
Rancho, donated parts of his rancho to a group of New Mexican colonists
in 1845 on the understanding that they would aid in repelling Indian raids on his
stock. The community was named Agua Mansa-Gentle Water-and was prosperous
until 1862, when a great flood suddenly swept down the Santa Ana, carrying away
the village of adobe buildings and covering the fields with sand and gravel.
The village was rebuilt on higher ground, but never regained its former prosperity.
Location: Agua Mansa Cemetery, 270 E Agua Mansa Rd, Colton
NO. 191 YORBA-SLAUGHTER ADOBE - This example of early California
architecture was built in 1850-53 by Raimundo Yorba. Purchased in 1868
by Fenton Mercer Slaughter, it was preserved as a memorial to him by his
daughter, Julia Slaughter Fuqua.
Location: 17127 Pomona-Rincon Rd, 5.5 mi S of Chino
NO. 360 TAPIA ADOBE (SITE OF) - In 1839 Governor Juan Alvarado
granted the 13,000-acre tract called Cucamonga to Tiburcio Tapia, an ex-soldier who was a prominent merchant and alcalde in Los Angeles. A half-mile
west of this marker Tapia, employing Indian laborers, immediately built
an adobe house on a
vantage point on Red Hill. The large adobe was abandoned in 1858 when
Tapia's heirs sold the rancho. The adobe soon disintegrated into its native
earth. This marker is located on land which once was a part of Tapia's rancho.
Location: 8916 Foothill Blvd, Cucamonga
NO. 42 SAN BERNARDINO ASISTENCIA - This branch of San Gabriel
Mission was constructed about 1830 on the San Bernardino Rancho. During
the 1840s its buildings were used by José del Carmen Lugo as part
of his rancho grant. After its sale to the Mormons, it was occupied by
Bishop Tenney in the 1850s and by Dr. Benjamin Barton in the 1860s. Its restoration was completed
in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration, assisted by the San Bernardino
County Historical Society.
Location: 26930 Barton Rd, E of Nevada St, Redlands
NO. 44 SITE OF MORMON STOCKADE - On this site in 1839 was
built the first house in San Bernardino, the home of José del Carmen
Lugo, one of the grantees of the San Bernardino Rancho. In 1851 a stockade of logs was
built here as a protection against the Indians, in it more than a hundred
families lived for over a year.
Location: San Bernardino County Courthouse, Arrowhead Ave and
Court St, San Bernardino
NO. 490 CUCAMONGA RANCHO WINERY - Established by Tiburcio
Tapia, to whom the Cucamonga Rancho was granted March 3, 1839, by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado of Mexico.
Location: 8916 Foothill Blvd, Cucamonga
NO. 528 YUCAIPA ADOBE - Constructed in 1842 by Diego Sepúlveda,
nephew of Antonio María Lugo, this is believed to be the oldest
house in San Bernardino County. The land, formerly controlled by San Gabriel Mission,
was part of the Rancho San Bernardino granted to the Lugos in 1842. The
adobe's later owners included John Brown, Sr., James W. Waters, and the Dunlap family,
it was acquired by San Bernardino County in 1955.
Location: 32183 Kentucky St, Yucaipa
USGS Quadrangle Sheet Name: YUCAIPA
NO. 573 SYCAMORE GROVE - Sycamore Valley ranch, formerly
called Sycamore Grove, was first camp of the Mormon pioneers. Captain Jefferson
Hunt, Amasa Lyman, Charles C. Rich, David Seely, and Andrew Lytle stopped
here in June 1851.
Location: Glen Helen Regional Park, 2555 Devore Rd, 0.7 mi W
of Devore
NO. 576 SANTA FE AND SALT LAKE TRAIL MONUMENT - Erected
in 1917 in honor of the brave pioneers of California who traveled the Santa
Fe and Salt Lake Trail in 1849 by Sheldon Stoddard, Sydney P. Waite, John
Brown, Jr., George Miller, George M. Cooley, Silas C. Cox, Richard Weir,
and Jasper N. Corbett.
Location: S end Wagon Train Rd, SE corner I-15 (P.M. 21.4) and
State Hwy 138, 17 mi N of San Bernardino
NO. 577 MORMON TRAIL MONUMENT - In June 1851, 500 Mormon
pioneers came through this pass to enter the San Bernardino Valley, where
they established a prosperous community.
Location: W Cajon Canyon, State Hwy 138 (P.M. 10. 7), 3.6 mi
W of I-15, 20 mi N of San Bernardino
NO. 578 STODDARD-WAITE MONUMENT - This monument marks the
western extension of the Santa Fe Trail traveled by Sheldon Stoddard and Sydney P. Waite in 1849.
Location: Elsie Arey May Nature Center NW corner of I-15 (P.M.
20.0) and Cleghorn Rd, 16 mi N of San Bernardino
NO. 579 DALEY TOLL ROAD MONUMENT - The Daley Road, built
by Edward Daley and Co. in 1870, was one of the first roads into the San Bernardino Mountains that could accommodate wagons. It was a toll road
until 1890, when it became a county road. Now a Forest Service fire road,
it is not open to the public.
Location: On State Hwy 18 (P.M. 23.3), at Daley Canyon Rd, 0.6
mi E of Rim Forest
NO. 617 FORT BENSON - This is the site of an adobe fortification
erected about 1856-57 by the 'Independent' faction in a dispute with the
Mormons over a land title. The fort was maintained for about a year. This also is
the site of the Indian village of Jumuba, and Jedediah Smith camped here
in January 1827.
Location: 10600 Hunts Lane, Colton
NO. 618 GARCÉS-SMITH MONUMENT - This monument marks
an old Indian trail, the Mojave Trail, used by Father Garcés in
March 1776 on his trip from Needles to San Gabriel. The same trail was used by Jedediah Smith
in 1826 on his first trip through San Bernardino Valley.
Location: Call San Bernardino National Forest, Cajon Ranger District,
714/887-2576 for permission to view plaque and directions
NO. 619
HOLCOMB VALLEY - Southern California's largest
gold rush followed the discovery of rich placer deposits by William F.
Holcomb and Ben Choteau on May 4, 1860. Miners rushed to the valley and established
boom towns. Belleville, the largest, rivaled San Bernardino in population
and almost became the county seat. Violence and hangings were common in this remote valley.
Over time, major placer and quartz mining declined although some activity
continues today. Belleville Holcomb Valley, on Rd No. 3N16, 4.3 mi NW of Big
Bear City.
Location: Plaque at Big Bear Valley Historical Society Museum
in Big Bear City Park on Green Way Dr
NO. 620 YUCAIPA RANCHERIA - Yucaipa Valley supported a
large population of Serrano Indians. The fertile valley was watered by
springs and creeks. The Indians called this area 'Yucaipat' which meant 'wet lands.' These
Native Americans lived at this village site most of the year, with occasional
excursions to the mountains to gather acorns and other food items during the harvesting
season.
Location: 32183 Kentucky St, Yucaipa
NO. 622 HARRY WADE EXIT ROUTE - After getting to Death
Valley with the ill-fated 1849 caravan, Harry Wade found this exit route
for his ox-drawn wagon and thereby saved his life and the lives of his wife and children.
At this point the Wade party came upon the known Spanish Trail to Cajón
Pass.
Location: 4 mi S of Death Valley National Monument on State Hwy
127 (P.M. 29.8), 30 mi N of Baker
NO. 737 CHIMNEY ROCK - Conflicts between Indians and white
settlers over the rich lands of the San Bernardino Mountains culminated
in the battle at Chimney Rock on February 16, 1867. Although the Indians defended themselves
fiercely, they were forced to retreat into the desert. In the years following,
the Indians' traditional mountain food gathering areas were lost to white
encroachment.
Location: On State Hwy 18 (P.M. 76.9) at Rabbit Springs Rd, 3.2
mi W of Lucerne Valley
NO. 774 SEARLES LAKE BORAX DISCOVERY - John Searles discovered
borax on the nearby surface of Searles Lake in 1862. With his brother Dennis, he formed the San Bernardino Borax Mining Company in 1873 and operated
it until 1897. The chemicals in Searles Lake-borax, potash, soda ash, salt
cake, and
lithium-were deposited here by the runoff waters from melting ice-age
glaciers, John Searles' discovery has proved to be the world's richest
chemical storehouse, containing half the natural elements known to man.
Location: Roadside rest area, Trona Rd at Center St, Trona
NO. 781 NATIONAL OLD TRAILS MONUMENT - An old Indian trail,
still visible in some places, ran roughly parallel to the Colorado River
on the California side. This is the route followed by Garcés and his
Mojave guides in 1776 and by Jedediah Smith in 1826.
Location: On shoulder of NW corner of Colorado River Bridge,
North K St, Needles
NO. 782
TOWN OF CALICO - The Calico Mining District, which
had a peak population of 3,000, produced between $13 and $20 million in
silver and $9 million in borate minerals between 1881 and 1907. On April 6, 1881,
several claims were located that formed the Silver King, largest mine in
the district. Profitable mining of silver in the area ceased in 1896.
Location: 4 mi NW of I-15 on Ghost Town Rd, Yermo
NO. 859 VON SCHMIDT STATE BOUNDARY MONUMENT - This boundary
monument, a cast iron column erected in 1873, marks the southern terminus of the California-Nevada State boundary established by A.
W. Von Schmidt's 1872-73 survey. Von Schmidt's line, the first officially
recognized oblique state line between California and Nevada, erred slightly, the boundary
was later corrected to the present line, 3/4 mile to the north.
Location: On E side of Pew Rd (River Rd), 2.6 mi S of state line,
14 mi N of Needles
USGS Quadrangle Sheet Name: NEEDLES 15
NO. 892 HARVEY HOUSE - In 1893 Fred Harvey, founder and
operator of the Santa Fe Harvey Houses, took over the operation of all
hotel and restaurants on the Santa Fe line, including the one at Barstow (then Waterman Junction)
constructed in 1885. In 1908 this Harvey House burned, and in 1910-13 the
present
Spanish-Moorish structure designed by architect Mary E. J. Coulter
was constructed. It is the best surviving example of California's depot-hotels
of the turn of the century.
Location: Santa Fe Depot, SW corner of First Ave and Riverside
Dr,
plaque located at Mojave River Museum, 270 E Virginia Way, Barstow
NO. 939 Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments (Thematic)-HULA
VILLE - Miles Mahan began building Hula Ville in 1955 after retiring as
a 'carny,' or carnival worker. Over the years, he put his statues and poems together
in the desert, on Interstate 15 near Hesperia.
Location: On Amargosa Rd, 2.0 mi W of I-15 and Phelan Rd, 6 mi
NW of Hesperia
USGS Quadrangle Sheet Name: HESPERIA
NO. 939 Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments (Thematic)-POSSUM
TROT - Calvin and Ruby Black began building Possum Trot in 1954 as an attraction for their rock shop as well as an artistic expression. Calvin
carved the dolls, each representing someone important in his life, and
Ruby made clothes for them. The animated displays were designed to entertain visitors.
Location: Ghost Town Rd, 1.5 mi N of I-15, 4 mi NW of Yermo
USGS Quadrangle Sheet Name: YERMO
NO. 942 SITE OF THE RANCHO CHINO ADOBE OF ISAAC WILLIAMS
- Near this site, Isaac Williams in 1841 built a large adobe home, located
on the 22,000-acre Rancho Chino which he acquired from his father-in-law
Antonio Lugo. The 'Battle of Chino' occurred at the adobe on September
26-27, 1846, during which 24 Americans were captured by a group of about 50 Californios.
Located on the Southern Immigrant Trail to California, the adobe later
became an inn and stage stop famous for its hospitality.
Location: Chino Fire Station No. 2, 4440 Eucalyptus Ave, one
block W of State Hwy 71 and Pipeline Ave, 3 mi SW of Chino
NO. 95 GUACHAMA RANCHERIA - Guachama Rancheria, renamed
San Bernardino on May 20, 1810 by Francisco Dumetz, became the San Bernardino Rancho of the Mission San Gabriel in 1819. The adobe administration
building stood 70 yards north of this spot, an enramada served as the chapel,
and a zanja was constructed to bring water from the mountains for irrigation. Control
by mission fathers ended in 1834.
Location: 25894 Mission Rd, SW of high powerline towers on N
side of st, Redlands
NO. 950 UNITED STATES RABBIT EXPERIMENTAL STATION - In
March 1928, the Federal Government established the first and only experimental station in the United States devoted solely to research on the breeding
and raising of rabbits on a five-acre property donated by A. B. Miller
of Fontana. The station successfully pioneered new techniques of rabbit care and breeding until
1965 when the City of Fontana acquired the property for use as a senior
citizens facility.
Location: Josephine Knoph Senior Citizen Center of Fontana, 8384
Cypress Ave at Seville Ave, Fontana
USGS Quadrangle Sheet Name: FONTANA
NO. 96 MORMON ROAD - When the Mormons came to the San Bernardino
valley in 1851 they needed suitable lumber to construct their homes and stockade. To bring in lumber from the mountains they built an 11-mile
wagon road that required about a thousand days' labor to complete.
Location: Waterman Canyon, State Hwy 18 (P.M. 17.15), 0.5 mi
W of Crestline
NO. 963-1 CAMP CADY (ON THE MOJAVE ROAD) - Camp Cady was
located on the Mojave Road which connected Los Angeles to Albuquerque. Non-Indian travel on this and the nearby Salt Lake Road was beset by
Paiutes, Mohaves, and Chemehuevis defending their homeland. To protect
both roads, Camp Cady was established by U.S. Dragoons in 1860. The main building
was a stout mud redoubt. Improved camp structures were built 1/2 mile west
in 1868. After peace was achieved, the military withdrew in 1871. This protection
provided by Camp Cady enabled travelers, merchandise, and mail using both
roads to
boost California's economy and growth.
Location: 24 mi N of Barstow take Harvard Rd offramp from I-15,
turn rt, go .8 mi to Cherokee Rd, turn left and go 2.5 mi and turn rt at
second fence line. At
end of dirt rd.
USGS Quadrangle Sheet Name: MANIX
NO. 977 THE ARROWHEAD - Located in the foothills of the
San Bernardino Mountains directly above the City of San Bernardino, the
arrowhead landmark can be seen for miles around. This important landmark has for centuries
been a symbol of the San Bernardino Valley to the Native Indians and then
to the pioneers and settlers that followed. It is believed to be a natural landmark.
The face of the arrowhead consists of light quartz, supporting a growth
of short white sage. This
lighter vegetation shows in sharp contrast to the surrounding chaparral
and greasewood. Indians who inhabited the San Bernardino Valley believed
that the arrowhead pointed the way to the hot mineral springs below, with healing
qualities, and thus considered it holy ground. Through the years, numerous
forest fires have caused some erosion. But the arrowhead landmark continues to preserve
its uniqueness and remains a symbol of the 'pioneer spirit' of the San
Bernardino Valley.
Location: N of softball field in Wildwood Park, at intersection
of Waterman and 40th St, Hwy 18, San Bernardino
NO. 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA-ARIZONA MANEUVER
AREA (ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.) - CAMP IRON MOUNTAIN - Iron Mountain Divisional Camp
was established at this site in the Spring of 1942. One of eleven such
camps built in the California-Arizona Desert to harden and train United States
troops for service on the battlefields of World War II. The first major
unit trained here was the 3rd Armored Division followed by elements of the 4th, 5th, 6th,
and 7th Armored Divisions. In all, one million men trained in the desert
before the Training Center was officially closed in May of 1944. The most unique feature
built at this camp is the huge relief map built into the desert floor.
It can still be seen (1985).
Location: 45 mi E of Indio on I-10, take Hwy 177 N to right on
Hwy 62, plaque is 5.4 mi
NO. 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA-ARIZONA MANEUVER
AREA (ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.) - CAMP COXCOMB - Camp Coxcomb was established at this
site in the Spring of 1942. It was one of twelve such camps built in the southwestern desert to harden and train United States troops for service
on the battlefields of World War II. The Desert Training Center was a simulated
theater of operations that included portions of California, Arizona and Nevada.
The other camps were Young, Granite, Iron Mountain, Ibis, Clipper, Pilot
Knob, Laguna, Horn, Hyder, Bouse and Rice. A total of 13 infantry divisions and 7
armored divisions plus numerous smaller units were trained in this harsh
environment. The Training Center was in operation for almost 2 years and was closed
early in 1944 when the last units were shipped overseas. During the brief
period of operation over one million American soldiers were trained for combat.
Location: 45 mi E of Indio on I-10, exit at Desert Center and
go 18 mi N on SR 177
NO. 994 A.K. SMILEY PUBLIC LIBRARY - Albert K. Smiley,
a leader of the city's library movement, donated this building and park
to the citizens of Redlands in 1898. Through his generosity, Redlands was given one of
California's few privately funded libraries of that era. In 1906, he also
contributed a wing, built to blend with the original design for this outstanding Mission Revival
library.
Location: 125 West Vine St, Redlands
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places: NPS-94001487
