Gilroy in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 25, 2009

1. Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park Marker

Inscription. [This is a two-sided marker. Side-one being in English and Side-two being in Spanish:]

[Side One:] CHITACTAC For over 3,000 years, this area around the Uvas Creek drainage supported large populations of ancestral Ohlone People. This locality is believed to be the ethnohistoric village of Chitactac. The first European contact with this major village may have occurred in November 1774 during the Rivera-Palou Expedition.

ADAMS SCHOOL HOUSE In 1859, John Hicks Adams, "an old and experienced miner," future politician and sheriff donated this property to the Adams School District for a schoolhouse. Records are vague but at least two schools were built on this site with the last one being burned down in 1956.

Dedicated June 12, 1993
Mountain Charlie Chapter No.1850
E Clampus Vitis
"Right Wrongs Nobody"
[Side Two:]
CHITACTAC-ADAMS PARQUES DE HERENCIA DEL CONDADO
CHITACTAC Por mas de 3,000 anos, El Agua del Arroyo Uvas sostuvo grandes poblaciones de ascendiented de los Indeos Ohlones, su supone que el pueblo Chitactac, que tiene mayor significancia historica para los Ohlone, existo en esta localidad. En possible que aqui los Ohlone tuvieron el primer encuentro con Los Europeos

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de la expedicion de Rivera-Palou en el ano 1774.

ESCUELA ADAMS En el ano 1859, John Hicks Adams, que fue un anciano de mucha experiencia como miner, politico y sheriff, Dono esta propied ad al Distrito Escolar Adams para la construccion de una escuela. Hay pocos informes sobre esta escuela, pero sabemos que dos escuelas fueron construidas en este mismo sitio, La ultima escuela fue consumida en un incendio en el ano 1956.
Dedicado El 12 De Junio 1993
Mountain Charlie SucursalU No.1850
E Clampus Vitus
"Lo Justo No Dana a Nadie"

Erected 1993 by Mountain Charlie Chapter No.1850 E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Native Americans • Natural Resources • Notable Places • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 12, 1993.

Location. 37° 1.817′ N, 121° 39.4′ W. Marker is in Gilroy, California, in Santa Clara County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Watsonville Road and Burchell Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located at the entrance to the Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10001 Watsonville Road, Gilroy CA 95020, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 25, 2009

2. Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park Marker

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A journey of a Lifetime (within shouting distance of this marker); Arrival of the Spanish (within shouting distance of this marker); School Days (within shouting distance of this marker); Uvas Creek (within shouting distance of this marker); Food Processing (within shouting distance of this marker); Ranchos and Growth (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ohlone Buildings (about 300 feet away); Round House (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gilroy.

Also see . . . Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park. Santa Clara County parks entry (Submitted on January 31, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional commentary.
1. Chitactac Adams Self Guided Trail
The park offers a view into the Native American culture of Santa Clara County before and after the arrival of the Spanish. A self-guided interpretive walk around the site, including nine stations with interpretive panels, is supplemented by an interpretive shelter with seven additional panels and displays. The trail panels include photographs and original art covering Adams School, Ohlone village life, Ohlone buildings, petroglyphs (rock art), Ohlone food processing, natural history of Uvas Creek, Spanish California

Chitactac-Adams Parques De Herencia Del Condado image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 25, 2009

3. Chitactac-Adams Parques De Herencia Del Condado

and Ohlone culture in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Interpretive Shelter features more information about Ohlone culture including language, trade, social structure, plant uses and other food resources, post-contact Ohlone culture, and petroglyphs and their preservation.

— Submitted May 1, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 25, 2009

4. Chitactac-Adams Parques De Herencia Del Condado

Petroglyph On Display in Interpretive Shelter image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 25, 2009

5. Petroglyph On Display in Interpretive Shelter

Bedrock Mortars image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009

6. Bedrock Mortars

Used for food processing

Interpretive Marker Along the Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 25, 2009

7. Interpretive Marker Along the Trail

Information Station in the Interpretive Shelter image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 25, 2009

8. Information Station in the Interpretive Shelter

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009

9. Uvas Creek

Sign at Entrance to Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 25, 2009

10. Sign at Entrance to Park

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,005 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on May 1, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.