Sanger in Fresno County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Dalton Mountain

Photographed by Lester J Letson, October 6, 2016

1. Dalton Mountain Marker

Inscription.
In 1891, a posse shootout forced the infamous Dalton Brothers gang from this mountain hideout. They made their way back to Kansas where they eventually met their fate in Coffeyville. The outlaws, long since gone, leave Dalton Mountain as their lasting valley legacy.

Erected 1994 by Jim Savage 1852 Chapter of the E Clampus Vitus and Sanger Rotary. (Marker Number 37.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus, and the Rotary International series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.

Location. 36° 47.417′ N, 119° 18.333′ W. Marker is in Sanger, California, in Fresno County. It can be reached from North Elwood Road. Marker is on the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort property in Wonder Valley. A left turn at the resort brings you to a gate that automatically opens. A quick left turn and you see a turnout on the right. The historic marker is right next to the parking turnout. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6450 Elwood Road, Sanger CA 93657, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

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 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Kings River (approx. 3 miles away); Choinumni (approx. 3.9 miles away); William "Yank" Hazelton

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(approx. 6.8 miles away); Dunlap Cemetery (approx. 11 miles away); Kings River - Centerville (approx. 11.3 miles away); Major James D. Savage (approx. 13.9 miles away); Humphrey Station (approx. 14.2 miles away); Wagon Bridge (approx. 15.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sanger.

More about this marker. The marker faces Dalton Mountain, so while reading the monument, you can look above it and see the mountain itself.

Regarding Dalton Mountain. Grat Dalton hid out on the mountain in 1891 after 2 valley train robberies, only venturing down from the mountain to steal food or to get water. He and another gang member had been hiding out at his brother Littleton’s house in Fresno County and had even hidden out at Clovis Cole's bunkhouse (The namesake for the town of Clovis, CA), but the law was after them, so hiding out on the mountain was their best bet. An informant led the local sheriff know where they were hiding and he began the long trip through the valley to the mountain. From their perch high up on the mountain they were able to see him coming from a long distance away,

Photographed by Mandy Kirby, March 16, 2019

2. Dalton Mountain Marker

and made their escape, heading back to Kansas. Grat died in a failed bank robbery a year later. His brother Lit Dalton remained on the straight and narrow living out his life farming in the valley.

Also see . . .
1. Dalton Gang Attempted First Train Robbery - 1891, in California. Crime Magazine website entry (Submitted on December 28, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. The Last of the Daltons. Printed in the Fresno Bee Magazine, June 27, 1943 (Submitted on February 26, 2010.)

Additional keywords. Outlaws

Photographed by Mandy Kirby, March 16, 2019

3. Dalton Mountain Marker

Photographed by Mandy Kirby, March 16, 2019

4. Dalton Mountain Marker

Dalton Mountain dedication image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lester J Letson, September 18, 1994

5. Dalton Mountain dedication

Dedication of the Dalton Mountain monument in 1994. Dalton Mountain is clearly visible in the background.

Photographed by Lester J Letson, February 28, 2017

6. Dalton Mountain Marker

Since the marker was dedicated in 1994, a line of trees for a home and a zip line pole have been added to the background partially blocking the original view of Dalton Mountain.

Dalton Defenders Marker image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Michael Stroud

7. Dalton Defenders Marker

This marker is located in Coffeyville, Kansas and is a memorial to the defenders of Coffeyville during the Dalton Gang bank robbery attempt.
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. This page has been viewed 4,856 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 2, 2017, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 19, 2019, by Mandy Kirby of Clovis, California. 5. submitted on February 25, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 6. submitted on March 2, 2017, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 7. submitted on December 19, 2007, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.