Bakersfield in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Jedediah Strong Smith

1799-1831

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 22, 2025

1. Jedediah Strong Smith Marker

Inscription.
Fur Traders - Trail Blazer - Map Maker
Jedediah Smith and fourteen men from the Smith, Jackson and Sublette fur trading partnership camped near here along the Kern River about February 10, 1827 on their way, North, up the San Joaquin Valley to explore non Mexican inhabited areas and access areas with beaver. They were the first Americans to reach California by land. Smith and two of his men then became the first to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains and travel across the great basin of Nevada to the Great Salt Lake area. He then returned to California and led his men, North, up the Sacramento Valley into Oregon Territory in 1828. The Northern California Indians had never seen horses or white men according to Smith’s journal. Smith’s extensive far Western explorations opened the door for early map makers.

Erected 2022 by Jedediah Smith Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1827.

Location. 35° 24.294′ N, 118° 59.932′ W. Marker is in Bakersfield, California, in Kern County. It is at the intersection of Panorama Drive and Loma Linda Drive, on the right when traveling west on Panorama Drive. Located in Panorama Park. Touch for map

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. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield CA 93305, 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Home of Elisha Stevens (approx. 0.7 miles away); Oildale Mural (approx. 1.2 miles away); Jewett Family (approx. 1.3 miles away); Beale Memorial Clock Tower (approx. 1.4 miles away); Kern County Chamber of Commerce (approx. 1.4 miles away); Bungalow (approx. 1.4 miles away); Standard School (approx. 1.4 miles away); Howell House (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bakersfield.

More about this marker. This 3,000 lb. marker is in Panorama Park, along the panorama bluffs trail.

Also see . . .
1. Jedediah Smith Society. Founded in 1957 to foster educational programs to promote public awareness and understanding of the career and accomplishments of Jedediah Strong Smith. (Submitted on October 8, 2025.)

2. Jedediah Smith, early 19th-century explorer, gets his Kern County due. KGET TV report on the placing of the marker in January 2023. (Submitted on September 23, 2025, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California.)

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 22, 2025

2. Jedediah Strong Smith Marker

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 22, 2025

3. Jedediah Strong Smith Marker

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 22, 2025

4. Jedediah Strong Smith Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 23, 2025, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 23, 2025, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.