Danville in Contra Costa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Bret Harte Park

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, June 5, 2022

1. Bret Harte Park Marker

Inscription. Bret Harte became famous for writing short stories about the Gold Rush era. In 1863 he wrote "A Legend of Monte Diablo." Later in 1870, he authored "The Luck of Roaring Camp" and then "A First Family of Tassajara" in 1892.

From October through December 1856 Harte lived with the Abner Bryant family along Alamo Creek east of Danville in the Tassajara Valley. Bryant had four young sons, Tom, Wise, George, and Jonathan. Not caring for them to grow up like "range cattle," Bryant engage 20-year-old Harte to tutor them. Harte drew on these types of experiences, including hiking to the top of Mount Diablo, when writing his stories.

In March 1931, Contra Costa County Farm Bureau women honored the famous author who lived in our midst by planting trees and creating Bret Harte Memorial Park beside the dirt road he traveled.

Danville Heritage Resource Commission 2019

Erected 2019 by Danville Heritage Resource Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1856.

Location. 37° 49.423′ N, 121° 59.254′ W. Marker is in Danville, California, in Contra Costa County. Marker is on Vista Grande Street, on the right when

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traveling south. The plaque is mounted to a metal post in the center of the small community park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2212 Vista Grande Street, Danville CA 94526, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tatcan Bay Miwok Indians (approx. half a mile away); Eugene O'Neill (approx. half a mile away); Eugene O'Neill: Carlotta and Gene (approx. half a mile away); Eugene O'Neill: O'Neill in Danville (approx. half a mile away); Eugene O'Neill: The Nobel Prize (approx. half a mile away); The Old Oak Tree (approx. half a mile away); Eugene O'Neill: A Moon for the Misbegotten (approx. half a mile away); Danville Grammar School (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Danville.

Also see . . . Bret Harte ~ American writer.

"In 1857 he was employed by the Northern Californian, a weekly paper. There his support of Indians and Mexicans proved unpopular; after a massacre of Indians in 1860, which he editorially deplored, he found it advisable to leave town."

(Submitted on June 8, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

Bret Harte Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, June 5, 2022

2. Bret Harte Park

Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 131 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 8, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.