Butterfield Overland Mail in Baja California facts for kids
The Butterfield Overland Mail route in Baja California was a special mail and passenger service. It was created by the United States government on March 3, 1857. This route was part of a bigger system and operated until June 30, 1861. After this, other stagecoach lines used parts of the route until the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in Yuma, Arizona.
History of the Route
Even though it only ran for a few years (1857 to 1861), the Butterfield route became famous. It used one of the most important roads for settling and developing California. Much of this old road is still used today!
The path from Fort Yuma to Warners Pass followed an old Spanish trail called the Sonora Road. This trail went from Sonora (in Mexico) to San Diego. The Sonora Road also connected to the Kearny Trail. This trail was used by the U.S. Army during the Mexican–American War.
During the California Gold Rush, many American immigrants and their animals used this route. It was first explored by Kearny and Cooke. A new road was added from Warners Pass to Los Angeles, and this became the important Southern Emigrant Trail. People used it for many years after 1849.
The Butterfield route started by crossing the Colorado River from New Mexico Territory into California at Fort Yuma. Then, it went along the river to Pilot Knob Station. From there, it went into Baja California, Mexico. This part of the journey was about 117 miles long. It went through Mexico to avoid the huge Algodones Dunes (a big sand dune area). It also used stations that had a little water from the Colorado River's spring floods. This water was found along the Alamo and New Rivers in the very dry Colorado Desert.
After this, the route re-entered California at Indian Wells. It then crossed the flat, empty Yuha Desert to Sackett's Wells. The path continued through what is now the Carrizo Impact Area. It went up Carrizo Wash, which cut through the Carrizo Badlands. Then it reached Carrizo Creek Station and the green area of Vallicito.
From Vallecito, the route went northwest into the Peninsular Ranges. It passed through the San Felipe Station in the San Felipe Valley. It crossed Warners Pass to Warner's Ranch, then went to Temecula Station. Finally, it arrived in Los Angeles, which was a main office and the end point for this part of the route.
Stations Along the Way
The Butterfield Overland Mail route had many stations. These were important stops where travelers could rest, eat, and where horses could be changed for fresh ones.
- New River Station - This station was added later. It was in Baja California, about 15 miles southeast of Indian Wells Station in California. It was also 14 miles west of Alamo Mocho, in what is now Mexicali.
- Alamo Mocho Station - This was one of the original stations. It was located in Baja California, about 38 miles east of Indian Wells Station.
- Gardner's Wells Station - This station was also added later. It was in Baja California, 9 miles east of Alamo Mocho and 9 miles west of Seven Wells.
- Salt or Seven Wells - Another later station, located in Baja California, 18 miles east of Alamo Mocho.
- Cooke's Wells Station - This was an original station. It was in Baja California, 22 miles east of Alamo Mocho Station. It was also 18 miles west of Pilot Knob Station in California.
