Temecula in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Butterfield Overland Mail Route

Photographed by Adam Margolis, August 30, 2025

1. The Butterfield Overland Mail Route Marker

Inscription.
John Butterfield's Overland Line had a federal contract to carry mail from Tipton, Missouri to San Francisco. Butterfield Overland stagecoaches carried passengers and mail roughly following the Southern Emigrant Trail, making the trip each way in 22 days. Stages stopped at John Magee's store on the south side of the Temecula Creek from September 1858 to March 1862. In April 1859 Magee's Store became the first Temecula Post Office. The Civil War brought an end to the mail.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Butterfield Overland Mail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1862.

Location. 33° 28.715′ N, 117° 5.855′ W. Marker is in Temecula, California, in Riverside County. It can be reached from the intersection of Temecula Parkway and Redhawk Parkway, on the right when traveling east. Located in the Vail Headquarters shopping area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 32123 Temecula Pkwy, Temecula CA 92592, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Inland Empire,

and in the Peninsular 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 walking distance of this marker: Cowboys (here, next to this marker); Emigrants (here, next to this marker); Native Americans (here,

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next to this marker); The Bunkhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Foreman's House (within shouting distance of this marker); Vail Ranch Cookhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Butterfield Stagecoaches (within shouting distance of this marker); Hotel Rooms (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Temecula.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, August 30, 2025

2. The Butterfield Overland Mail Route Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2025, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 126 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 1, 2025, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.