Politana, California facts for kids

Politana, also known as Apolitana, was the very first Spanish settlement in the San Bernardino Valley in California. It began as a small church and a supply stop for the Mission San Gabriel. It was built in a village of the Guachama Native American people, on a hill now called Bunker Hill, near Lytle Creek. Besides the Guachama, people from New Mexico and the Cahuilla Native American group also lived there at different times. Today, a famous landmark near the old site is the St. Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church on Colton Avenue, close to the Inland Center Mall in San Bernardino, California.

The name Politana is thought to come from a "faithful Native American convert named Hipolito."

Politana's Early Days: A New Settlement

In 1810, the Mission San Gabriel set up a small church dedicated to San Bernardino. They also created a supply station for travelers coming from Yuma across the desert on their way to Monterey. This was built in the Guachama village near what is now Bunker Hill, between Urbita Springs and modern-day Colton. The spot was chosen because there were many springs nearby.

When the adobe buildings were finished, the priests and Tongva workers went back to San Gabriel Mission. They left the church, the station, and many supplies with Native American soldiers from the mission. These soldiers were led by a chief named Hipolito. The Native American village here was named Politana after him. For the next two years, the priests often visited the church. The Serrano Native Americans were friendly, and many of them became Christians. Crops were planted, and the settlement seemed to be doing well.

The Year of Earthquakes and a New Spring

The year 1812 was known in Alta California as "the year of earthquakes" (el año de los temblores). Many earthquakes shook the Politana area. The hot springs in the valley got hotter, and a new hot mud spring (cienegata) appeared near Politana. This new spring later became known as Urbita Springs.

Spanish missionaries used this mud spring for religious events. They also thought it had healing powers. These practices made the Serrano people worried. They believed these activities were upsetting a powerful spirit. To calm their fears, the missionaries tried to cover the mud spring with earth. But it did not work.

Conflict and Rebuilding Politana

The Serrano believed the earthquakes and the new spring showed that a powerful spirit was angry because the Spanish and Christian converts were in their land. To calm this spirit, they attacked the Politana village. Many of the Mission Native Americans were killed, and the buildings were destroyed.

Several years later, the Serrano and Mountain Cahuilla people rebuilt the Politana village. In 1819, they invited the missionaries to come back to the valley. The missionaries returned and set up the San Bernardino de Sena Estancia. Serrano and Cahuilla people continued to live in Politana long after the government changed how missions were run in the 1830s. They also lived there after the land became part of the Rancho San Bernardino in 1842.

Rancho San Bernardino and New Settlers

Antonio Maria Lugo started the Rancho San Bernardino on the old Mission San Gabriel land in the 1830s. He offered land to settlers from Abiquiu, New Mexico if they would live on the rancho at Politana. Their job was to protect the rancho from Native American raiders and outlaws who were stealing cattle from ranches in Southern California.

These new settlers first moved to Politana on the Rancho San Bernardino in 1842. Don Lorenzo Trujillo led the first group of settlers from New Mexico. They settled about half a mile south of the Native American village of La Politana. This group included William Workman, John A. Rowland, and Benjamin Davis Wilson. After about two years at La Politana, Don Lorenzo and four other families were convinced to move. Don Juan Bandini offered them 2,000 acres of land on the east side of the Santa Ana River, at the edge of the Rancho Jurupa. This new village was called "La Placita de los Trujillos," and later just La Placita.

In 1843, a second group of settlers arrived at La Politana. They were led by Don Jose Tomas Salazar. Among these settlers were Louis Rubidoux and Christobal Slover. In 1845, the Salazar settlers also moved to the Santa Ana River. They settled one mile northeast of La Placita and started a village called Agua Mansa.

To replace the New Mexicans as protectors of their cattle, the Lugos brought Mountain Cahuilla tribesmen to live in Politana. Their leader was Juan Antonio. They stayed there until 1851. At that time, they dealt with a group of American outlaws who had been raiding the ranches. Because of this event, many American people were upset. Soon after, the Cahuilla moved east to a new village called Saahatpa in the San Gorgonio Pass, near Banning, California.

Politana's Disappearance

A few Native Americans remained at the Politana village when American settlers began to arrive. Politana was also a sacred burial place for the Christian Native Americans of the San Bernardino Valley. This cemetery was used by Native Americans from all over the valley. However, the graves were later leveled, and the land was used for farming.

As more people settled the area, the number of Native Americans decreased. Many also left, especially during a smallpox sickness in 1862-63. The few remaining homes fell apart and disappeared. The cemetery became an orange grove in the late 1800s. Today, the site is an empty lot west of the St. Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church on Colton Avenue, near the Inland Center Mall. There is no longer any sign of the village or cemetery, except for sometimes finding pieces of old tile or pottery.

De Sienna Mission Hot Springs Resort

The hot springs in the area may have been formed by the powerful 1812 San Juan Capistrano earthquake and another earthquake 13 days later in Ventura.

In 1929, Frank R. McDonald opened the De Sienna Mission Hot Springs resort at the site. The "plunge" offered baths with black and white sulfur water. Other fun things included a mini golf course and picnic areas. McDonald built a three-story tower as an attraction. The bottom floor had a museum with Native American artifacts. The bathhouse and tower were meant to be part of a much bigger plan. During World War II, the tower was used by civil defense to look out for enemy airplanes. The bathhouse might have lasted until the 1950s. The tower was torn down in 1976.

De Sienna's main competitor in the area was Urbita Springs. That site had the Urbita Lake Railway and since 1966, it has been the location of the Inland Center mall.