Santa Fe And Salt Lake Trail Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa Fe And Salt Lake Trail Monument |
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Santa Fe And Salt Lake Trail Monument
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| Location | Cajon Pass, California |
| Built | 1917 |
| Architect | Pioneer Society of San Bernardino |
| Designated | May 17, 1957 |
| Reference no. | 576 |
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| Stoddard-Waite Monument | |
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Stoddard Waite Monument on May 13, 1913
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| Location | Dirt road on private property, Cajon Pass, California |
| Built | 1912 |
| Designated | May 17, 1957 |
| Reference no. | 578 |
The Santa Fe And Salt Lake Trail Monument is a special marker in Cajon Pass, California. It was named a California Historical Landmark (No. 576) on May 17, 1957. This monument shows where two important old trails met: the Old Spanish Trail (trade route) and the Mohave Trail-Mojave Road.
The monument is a large white marker. You can find it near Interstate 15, which used to be U.S. Route 66. The Pioneer Society of San Bernardino built it in 1917. They wanted to honor the brave pioneers who traveled west. The marker is 12 feet tall and 7 feet wide at its base.
Cajon Pass was once home to the Serrano Indians, a group of Native Californians. They lived in villages like Atongaibit, Guapiabit, and Amuscopiabit. Native people used this pass long before recorded history. The San Andreas Fault runs through the pass. This fault helped create the 3,777 ft (1,151 m) mountain pass. It sits between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California. On one side is the Mojave Desert, and on the other is the Los Angeles Basin.
The monument especially honors those who crossed the pass on June 20, 1851. Sheldon Stoddard and Sydney P. Waite were two of these pioneers. They were part of the group called the Death Valley '49ers. They crossed the pass after a difficult journey through Death Valley in 1849. The Pioneer Society also built a log cabin and picnic areas for people to use.
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Who Built the Santa Fe and Salt Lake Trail Monument?
The names of the Pioneer Society of San Bernardino members who built the monument in 1917 are carved on it. These people helped create this important landmark.
- Sheldon Stoddard (born February 8, 1830) survived the tough 1849 trip to California. He was a pioneer in San Bernardino. He crossed the Mojave Desert several more times.
- Sydney P. Waite also survived the 1849 trip. He became lifelong friends with Sheldon Stoddard. They even took their wagons apart to get them over the rough Cajon Pass. Waite later bought the Los Angeles Star newspaper. He became the first postmaster and moved to San Bernardino in 1858.
- John Brown, Jr. was a pioneer and lawyer in San Bernardino. In 1872, he built a toll road through Cajon Pass using dynamite. He was the Secretary of the Pioneer Society and helped plan the monument's dedication. After his toll road agreement ended, the county built an automobile road in 1915. This road was part of the National Old Trails Road. A big flood in 1938 washed it away.
- George Miller wrote a book called A Trip to Death Valley in 1919. It was about his 1869 trip to Death Valley.
- George M. Cooley was a San Bernardino pioneer. He opened a hardware store called Cooley-Betterly Hardware. He sold his store in 1925.
- Silas C. Cox was the President of the Pioneer Society of San Bernardino. He helped organize the monument's dedication.
- Richard Weir was an active member of the Pioneer Society. He passed away in San Bernardino in April 1932.
- Jasper N. Corbett (also known as Jap Corbett) came to California in 1856. He was a pioneer and prospector in San Bernardino. He was born in 1843 in Jackson County, Indiana. He worked on the old Moses Daley ranch and was active in the Pioneer Society.
The Stoddard-Waite Monument
The Stoddard-Waite Monument is another California Historical Landmark (No. 578). It was given this title on May 17, 1957. This monument marks the exact spot where Sheldon Stoddard and Sydney P. Waite crossed Cajon Pass in 1851.
Stoddard and Waite built this monument themselves in 1912. A big ceremony was held to dedicate it on May 18, 1913. The monument used to be in the Elsie Arey May Nature Center. It is south of the I-15, on Cleghorn Road. It is about 16 miles north of San Bernardino. The monument is now on private land.
Dedication Ceremony in 1913
Many important people attended the dedication of the Stoddard-Waite Monument on May 18, 1913:
- Sheldon Stoddard was 83 years old. He had crossed the pass 60 years earlier as one of the first pioneers.
- Sydney P. Waite was a survivor of the difficult 1849 trip through Death Valley.
- Capt. Jefferson Hunt had crossed the pass three times: in 1847, 1849, and 1851.
- Mrs. (Nancy) Edward Daley was Captain Hunt's daughter.
- Hattie Irene Knight unveiled the monument. She was Sheldon Stoddard's great-granddaughter.
- Other original 1849 pioneers were there, including Mrs. Nancy Daley, Sarah A. Rathbun, and Justis Morse.
- Hundreds of other old pioneers also attended.
- Federal Judge Benjamin Franklin Bledsoe gave a speech.
- Judge J. W. Curtis, whose grandfather came through the pass in the early 1860s, also spoke.
- Judge Rex B. Goodceli, whose grandfather came through the pass in 1857, shared his thoughts.
- Attorney Grant Holcomb was the grandson of pioneer William F. Holcomb. William Holcomb came to San Bernardino in 1860 and found gold in Big Bear and Holcomb Valley.
- Pioneer William Stephen was present.
- Attorney R. E. Swing also attended.
- R.T. Roberds, Mary Crandall, Ane Smithson, Jane Smithson, and George Miller shared their stories of crossing the pass.
- Pablo Belarde shared his story of crossing in 1844 by pack mule with New Mexico blankets.
- Reverend Mark B. Shaw gave the opening prayer.
- Mary Harris was in charge of the American flags at the site.
- De La Montaigne Woodward, Henry M. Willis, Judge Benjamin F. Bledsoe, W.J. Curtis, and Joseph E. Rich also shared stories.
100-Year Rededication in 2013
The Stoddard-Waite Monument was rededicated on May 18, 2013. This event celebrated its 100-year anniversary. The San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society organized it. Members of the Stoddard and Waite families spoke about their family history.
After the rededication, the group walked to other historical spots. They visited parts of the old toll road and bridge piers for Crowder Canyon. They also discussed the history of the Inman Ranch. President Steve Shaw opened the event and showed slides about the "Old Pioneer Society." Mike Hartless from the San Bernardino County Museum Association shared information about the local Indian village.
Historical Markers
The California Historical Landmark Marker #576 at the Santa Fe And Salt Lake Trail site says:
- Santa Fe And Salt Lake Trail 1849, Erected in honor of the brave pioneers of California, in 1917 by Sheldon Stoddard, Sydney P. Waite, John Brown, Jr., George Miller, George M. Cooley, Silas C. Cox, Richard Weir, and Jasper N. Corbett.
The Stoddard-Waite Monument at the Elsie Arey May Nature Center, California Historical Landmark #578, says:
- Sheldon Stoddard, Sydney P. Waite came over this trail in 1849 helped erect this monument in 1912.
The California Historical Landmark book also states:
- This monument marks the western extension of the Santa Fe Trail traveled by Sheldon Stoddard and Sydney P. Waite in 1849.
Elsie Arey May Nature Center
The Elsie Arey May Nature Center was a place in Southern California's Cajon Pass. It was located on the Pacific Crest Trail. Elsie Arey May was a teacher in San Bernardino County. She also helped at the San Bernardino County museum as a member of the Museum Association.
