Hesperia in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

John Brown Road Crossing

At Main Street

— 1870 —

John Brown Road Crossing Marker image. Click for full size.

courtesy Hesperia Museum, 2021

1. John Brown Road Crossing Marker

Inscription. In 1870, road builder John A. Brown upgraded a small path into a road ten miles in length. Running between Cajon's old summit and the prehistoric Mojave Trail, it passed through Hesperia diagonally crossing today's Main Street in the 16000 block. In 1913, part of this road became America's first transcontinental highway.

Erected 1995 by Hesperia Recreation and Park District. (Marker Number 4.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 34° 25.389′ N, 117° 18.798′ W. Marker is in Hesperia, California, in San Bernardino County. It is on Main St 0.1 miles east of Seventh Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16005 Main St, Hesperia CA 92345, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Peninsular Ranges,

and specifically in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is 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 finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hesperia Hotel Granite Stones (approx. 0.4 miles away); Walters Store & House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Hesperia Hotel (approx. 0.7 miles away); Hesperia Train Station (approx. 0.7 miles away); Old School House (approx. 0.9 miles away); Original Water Supply Ditch (approx. 1.1 miles away);

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Original Hesperia Beginnings (approx. 2 miles away); Holcomb Valley Road (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hesperia.

Photographed by Craig Baker, February 7, 2021

2. John Brown Road Crossing Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 999 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 20, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on February 9, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.