El Monte in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

San Gabriel Mountains

Mount Wilson Observatory

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2025

1. San Gabriel Mountains Marker

Inscription.
Mt. Wilson is home to a world-famous astronomical research facility founded in 1904. The special atmospheric conditions of the San Gabriel Valley create an ideal environment for observing the sun and stars from the San Gabriel Mountains. Learn more at MtWilson.edu

The observatory is home to the 100-inch telescope which Edwin Hubble used to prove that the Milky Way is only one of millions of galaxies in an ever-expanding universe.

Erected 2021 by Amigos de los Rios.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.

Location. 34° 5.818′ N, 118° 1.087′ W. Marker is in El Monte, California, in Los Angeles County. It can be reached from Rio Hondo Bike Path 0.4 miles west of Peck Road Water Conservation Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: El Monte CA 91732, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tongva (approx. 1½ miles away); Hicks Camp (approx. 1½ miles away); Lady Liberty (approx. 1.9 miles away); Gay’s Lion Farm (approx. 2 miles away); The Frederick G. Exner Memorial Windmill (approx. 2.1

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miles away); El Monte (approx. 2.1 miles away); a different marker also named El Monte (approx. 2.4 miles away); The Lion (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Monte.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. - the Mount Wilson 100-Inch Telescope, “The Most Important Scientific Instrument of the Twentieth Century.”

Also see . . . Mount Wilson visitor information. (Submitted on June 2, 2025.)

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2025

2. San Gabriel Mountains Marker

The paved bike path runs parallel to this dirt path.

San Gabriel Mountains and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2025

3. San Gabriel Mountains and Marker

Mount Wilson is at center.

Marker Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2025

4. Marker Detail

Sign Near Bike Path image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2025

5. Sign Near Bike Path

Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 141 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 1, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.