Las Cruces • The Crosses

Las Cruces . The Crosses. . , History of ... , , Chumash Indian Village, For many centuries prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the late 1700s, Santa Barbara County was home to a large Chumash Indian population. Valleys such as this one were often the site of Chumash villages. In the early 1800s, when friars from Mission Santa Ines put crosses on some unmarked Indian graves, this area became known as Las Cruces (The Crosses). , , Mexican Land Grant, Cordero Family, Miguel Cordero, a retired soldier from the Presidio of Santa Barbara, built an adobe home at Las Cruces around 1833. His Mexican land grant of over 8,000 acres included a vineyard, orchard, wheat and barley crops, and a cattle ranch. , , Stagecoach Stop, Beginning in 1861, Las Cruces became a convenient stop along the stagecoach route from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. , , Roadside Cafe and Gas Station, In 1881, the Hollister and the Dibblee brothers purchased the Cordero Rancho. After local stagecoach lines went out of business (1920), the adobe was operated as a roadside cafe and gas station. , , Gaviota State Park, In 1967, the State of California acquired this land as part of Gaviota State Park. Today these historic remains are protected as a reminder of our colorful past. To learn more about the patterns of California history, visit La Purisima State Historic Park near Lompoc or El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park in Santa Barbara. , , Left Photo Caption , The present adobe nearby was probably constructed around 1860. By the 1930s it was in a state of ruin. Frank Fourly, known as "Rattlesnake Pete" because of his hatband, is shown sitting on the steps of the adobe. He lived in the adobe as a youngster until around 1894. , , Right Photo Caption , The bridge across Gaviota Creek served as a crossing for travelers going through the Gaviota Pass in the 1800s. , , During this period the barn east of the adobe was built to allow changing horse teams for the stage.