California Historical Landmarks in Riverside County, California facts for kids
Here's a fun guide to some amazing historical spots in Riverside County, California! These places are called California Historical Landmarks because they are super important to California's past. They help us remember the people and events that shaped this area.
You can even click the "Map of all coordinates" link to see where all these cool places are on a map!
Contents
Ancient Wonders and Early People
Giant Desert Figures: Blythe Intaglios
Imagine huge drawings on the ground that are so big you can only really see them from above! These are the Blythe Intaglios, also known as the Giant Desert Figures. They were made by ancient Native American people by scraping away dark rocks to show lighter soil underneath. These mysterious figures are found near Blythe, California and are believed to be thousands of years old. They show animals, human-like shapes, and geometric designs.
Carved and Painted Rocks: Messages from the Past
In Temescal Valley, California, you can find ancient messages left by the Luiseño people.
The Carved Rock
One special spot is the Carved Rock. It has petroglyphs, which are designs carved into the stone. The Luiseño Indians made these. People say the carvings tell a story: 'A chief died here. These are his plumes, his portrait, his sign, and the animals sacred to him.' This rock helps us understand the beliefs and history of the Luiseño people who lived in Temescal Valley.
The Painted Rock
Another amazing place is the Painted Rock. This rock has pictographs, which are pictures painted onto the stone. It's a tribute to the earliest people in this area. The Santa Fe Railway helped protect this rock, and a local women's club placed a marker here. These paintings are like ancient art galleries, showing us what life was like long ago.
Pochea Indian Village Site
Near Hemet, California, you'll find the site of the Pochea Indian village. This was once a lively community for Native Americans. Today, it's part of the Ramona Bowl, a famous outdoor theater. This site reminds us of the rich history of the native people who lived here for centuries.
Saahatpa: A Cahuilla Village Story
Saahatpa, California was a village where Cahuilla Indians lived, led by Chief Juan Antonio. In the 1840s and early 1850s, Chief Juan Antonio and his people helped protect settlers in the San Bernardino area. Sadly, in 1862-1863, a smallpox sickness spread through Southern California, and many Native Americans, including Chief Juan Antonio, died. After this, Saahatpa was left empty. This site, near Beaumont, California, tells a sad but important part of local history.
Pioneers and Pathways
Louis Rubidoux's Legacy
Louis Rubidoux was an important early settler in Riverside County, California.
Site of Louis Rubidoux House
In Rubidoux, California, you can find the spot where Louis Rubidoux's house once stood. He was a pioneer who helped develop the area.
Rubidoux Grist Mill Site
Louis Rubidoux also built a grist mill, which was a place to grind grain into flour. The site of the Rubidoux Grist Mill Site is also in Rubidoux. These sites show us where important early businesses and homes were located.
Old Temescal Road: A Path Through History
The Old Temescal Road in Temescal Valley, California is more than just a road; it's a historic pathway! Native Americans like the Luiseño and Gabrieleno people used this route first. Later, explorers, gold seekers, and immigrants traveled on it. It was even part of the famous Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach route from 1858 to 1861, connecting Los Angeles to Fort Yuma. This road has seen centuries of travelers and is now part of California State Route 71.
Temescal Butterfield Stage Station
Along the Old Temescal Road, there was once a stop for the Butterfield stagecoaches called the Temescal Butterfield stage station. Stagecoaches were like early buses, carrying people and mail across long distances. This station was a vital resting point for travelers and horses.
Serrano Family Landmarks
The Serrano family were also very early settlers in Temescal Valley, California.
Serrano Boulder: First House Site
The Serrano Boulder marks the spot of the very first house built in what is now Riverside County. Leandro Serrano built this house on the Rancho Temescal around 1824. It's amazing to think about the first home in such a big county!
Serrano Tanning Vats
The Serrano tanning vats were built in 1819 by the Luiseño Indians, guided by Leandro Serrano. These vats were used to turn animal hides into leather. This shows how early settlers and Native Americans worked together and used natural resources.
Site of the Third Serrano Adobe
Leandro Serrano also planted orchards and vineyards in Temescal Valley. In the 1840s, he built his third adobe house on Rancho Temescal. The Serrano family lived there until 1898. The Site of the Third Serrano Adobe reminds us of the family's long history in the area.
Riverside's Rich Heritage
The Mission Inn: A Grand Hotel
The Mission Inn in Riverside, California is a truly special place. It's a beautiful and historic hotel that looks like an old Spanish mission. It has welcomed many famous people over the years and is a landmark for its amazing architecture and history.
Did you know that many of the oranges we eat today came from just one tree? The Parent Washington Navel Orange Tree in Riverside, California is that tree! It's located in a city park and is the original tree from which the famous Washington Navel orange variety spread across California and the world. This tree is a living piece of agricultural history.
Jensen Alvarado Ranch
The Jensen Alvarado Ranch in Riverside, California is another important historical site. It was a working ranch and home to two pioneer families, the Jensens and the Alvarados. It gives us a glimpse into what ranch life was like in the late 1800s.
Military and Modern History
Desert Training Center Camps
During World War II, the deserts of California were used as a huge training ground for soldiers. This was called the California–Arizona Maneuver Area, or the Desert Training Center.
Camp Coxcomb
Camp Coxcomb was one of these training camps, located near the Coxcomb Mountains.
Camp Granite
Camp Granite was another camp, found near the Granite Mountains.
Camp Young
The main headquarters for the Desert Training Center was Camp Young, located where the General George S. Patton Memorial Museum is today, near Chiriaco Summit, California. These camps were vital for preparing soldiers for battles in desert environments.
Soviet 1937 Transpolar Flight Landing Site
Imagine flying non-stop over the North Pole! In 1937, a Soviet crew did just that. Their record-breaking flight started in Moscow and ended unexpectedly in a dairy pasture outside San Jacinto, California. The Soviet 1937 transpolar flight landing site marks this incredible achievement in aviation history.
Other Notable Landmarks
Blythe Intake
The Blythe Intake is part of the Palo Verde Dam near Blythe, California. This dam is important for controlling water flow and irrigation in the area.
Corona Founders Monument
In Corona, California, the Corona Founders Monument honors the people who founded the city. It's a way to remember the early leaders and settlers who helped build Corona.
De Anza Crossing of the Santa Ana River
The Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza led expeditions through California in 1775 and 1776. The de Anza crossing of the Santa Ana River marks where his group crossed the river between what are now the cities of Riverside, California and Jurupa Valley, California. A memorial stands in Martha McLean – Anza Narrows park to remember this historic journey.
Hemet Maze Stone
The Hemet Maze Stone is a unique rock with a maze-like design carved into it, located in Maze Stone Park in Hemet, California. Its exact meaning is a mystery, but it's a fascinating piece of local history.
Ramona Bowl
The Ramona Bowl in Hemet, California is an outdoor amphitheater famous for hosting "The Ramona Pageant," California's official outdoor play. This play tells a romantic story about early California history and Native American life.
Rancho Santa Rosa
The Rancho Santa Rosa in Murrieta, California was a large historic ranch. It represents the important ranching era in California's past.
Contractor's General Hospital
The Contractor's General Hospital was located in Desert Center, California. This hospital played a role in providing medical care in a remote desert area.
Images for kids
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Blythe Intake
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Giant desert figures
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Site of Louis Rubidoux House
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Temescal Butterfield stage station
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Carved Rock
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Rubidoux Grist Mill Site
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Corona Founders Monument
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De Anza crossing of the Santa Ana River
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Camp Coxcomb
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Camp Granite
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Camp Young
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Hemet Maze Stone
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Jensen Alvarado Ranch
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Mission Inn
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Old Temescal Road
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Painted Rock
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Parent Washington Navel Orange Tree
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Pochea Indian village site
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Ramona Bowl
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Rancho Santa Rosa
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Saahatpa
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Serrano Boulder
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Serrano tanning vats
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Site of the de Anza camp, March 1774
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Site of the Third Serrano Adobe
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Soviet 1937 transpolar flight landing site
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