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

MISSING

SEE LOCATION SECTION

The Original Palm Springs

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, March 23, 2013

1. The Original Palm Springs Marker

Marker has been removed from the site.

Inscription. The warm spring here was the site of Se-Khe (Boiling Water), important village of the Kawasic Cahuilla Indians. The Spanish called it Agua Caliente (Hot Water). A stage station of that name operated from 1862 to 1876. As early as 1871 the Indians operated a bath house for tourists and the site tribally owned. Because of the surrounding native palm trees, it was later called "Palm Springs".

Erected by Riverside County Historical Society. (Marker Number 25.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 33° 49.403′ N, 116° 32.724′ 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 400 feet away); Oasis Hotel (about 500 feet away); Lykken’s Department Store (about

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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 Hot 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 Hot 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 Original Palm Springs. In the summer of 2014, the Agua Caliente Tribe announced plans to demolish the spa casino that existed at this site for many years. The new Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza opened in 2023. The Plaza includes the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, Spa, Cultural Plaza, and Oasis Trail, celebrating the history and culture of the

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, January 27, 2013

2. The Original Palm Springs Marker

Marker has been removed from the site.

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

January 27, 2013

3. The Original Palm Springs Marker

Marker has been removed from the site. View of spa casino prior to demolition.

New Museum Under Construction image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 29, 2019

4. New Museum Under Construction

The grand opening was on Nov. 3, 2023.

Agua Caliente Women image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 29, 2019

5. Agua Caliente Women

Bronze, 1994, by Doug Hyde. Located in the center median of Tahquitz Canyon Way at Indian Canyon Drive.

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 1,031 times since then and 81 times this year. Last updated on November 3, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 20, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. 4, 5. submitted on March 30, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • 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?