Palm Springs in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

MISSING

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The Hot Springs

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, March 23, 2013

1. The Hot Springs Marker

Inscription. The Kausik Cahuilla are the owners of one of California's most famous hot springs. This natural resource provided them with permanent, palatable mineral waters which were used for curing, drinking, and agriculture. It also was a direct access to the most valuable of all Cahuilla resources, the magical and powerful underworld in which powerful "nukatem" lived and from which Cahuilla shamans could acquire power, information and knowledge. It is remembered by Cahuilla that important shamans like Pedro Chino bathed in this pool and thereby acquired knowledge about healing from the powerful beings who occupied the underworld to which this hot springs is connected. This is an historical marker for the Cahuilla and a place noted by the earliest observers. It was made available for the use of all peoples by the Agua Caliente people; thus causing Palm Springs to become a world-famous destination resort.

Lowell John Bean, Ph.D. - Anthropologist

Erected 1995 by Agua Caliente Indian Reservation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 33° 49.412′ N, 116° 32.722′

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W. Marker was in Palm Springs, California, in Riverside County. It could be reached from the intersection of Tahquitz Canyon Way and Indian Canyon Drive. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Palm Springs CA 92262, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Coachella Valley,

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It was also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it was in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Welwood Murray Memorial Library (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Plaza Theatre (about 500 feet away); Oasis Hotel (about 500 feet away); Lykken’s Department Store (about 600 feet away); Site of First Community Church (about 600 feet away); "Above and Beyond" (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named The Desert Inn (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Oasis Hotel Dining Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palm Springs.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Original Palm Springs (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing); Desert Inn (was about 600 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. This historical marker and nearby marker The Original Palm Springs were removed to make way for construction of new facilities — The grand opening was on Nov. 3, 2023. New or original historical markers have yet to be installed at the new plaza.

Regarding The Hot Springs. In the summer of 2014, the Agua Caliente Tribe announced

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, March 23, 2013

2. The Hot Springs Marker

This marker has been removed from the site to make way for new construction.

plans to demolish the spa casino that existed at this site for many years. The new Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza opened in 2023, which includes the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, Spa, Cultural Plaza, and Oasis Trail, celebrating the history and culture of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

March 23, 2013

3. The Hot Springs Marker

Official Riverside County Marker RIV-025, also removed from the site.

The Hot Springs site image. Click for full size.

February 20, 2016

4. The Hot Springs site

The site of the two historical markers, fenced off in 2016, awaiting development by the Aqua Caliente Tribe.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 433 times since then and 48 times this year. Last updated on November 3, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 20, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of any markers installed at the new Cultural Plaza here. • Can you help?