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

Kern River Valley History

— Timeline —

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 7, 2026

1. Kern River Valley History Marker

Inscription.

Kern River Valley History. . , 8,000-10,000 Years Ago · Tubatulabal and Kawaiisu Tribes occupied the Valley. Descendants still live in the Valley. , 1834 · Joseph R. Walker crossed the Southern Sierra. Walker Pass named after him. , 1848 · Kern River named after Edward Kern, cartographer with the John C. Fremont Expedition. , 1854 · Gold discovered on Greenhorn Creek and the Kern River , 1856 · Keyesville established, site of the Mammoth and Keyes Mines. , 1859 · First Settlers on the South Fork named the town of Weldon. , 1860 · Whiskey Flat established for the miners of the Big Blue Mine. In 1864 Renamed to Kernville. , 1861 · William Scodie built Scodie Store in Onyx. Gold discovered in Kelso Creek and the Piute Mountains. , 1861-1865 · U.S. Civil War impacts the Southern Sierras. , 1883 · Massacre of 35 Natives occurred south of Kernville. , 1866 · Kern County was Formed. Havilah established as County Seat. Moved to Bakersfield in 1870. , 1893 · Steven Bartan established Isabella honoring the Queen of Spain. , 1904 · The Borel Hydoelectric Power Plant began producing electricity for the Red Car Line in Los Angeles. , 1907 · "KR1" Power Plant on the Lower Kern completed. , 1821 · "KR3" Power Plant completed. , 1926 · Kern Canyon Road completed. , 1948 · Isabella Dam Project started by the U.S. Corps of Engineers , 1951 · Towns of Kernville and Isabella were moved to their present locations. , 1953 · Isabella Dam completed. Reservoir begins to fill. , 1966 · Kern River Flood impacts the Kern Valley. , 1987 · Kern Valley Historical Society established. , 1990 · Kern Valley Museum opened on this site. , 1993 · Big Room added to the Museum. , 2016 · Erskine Fire devastates the Southern Valley. , 2017 · Research Annex built across from the Museum. , 2024 · Borel Fire devestates the Town of Havilah. , 2025 · Graham Truck is 100 years old.

8,000-10,000 Years Ago · Tubatulabal & Kawaiisu Tribes occupied the Valley. Descendants still live in the Valley.
1834 · Joseph R. Walker crossed the Southern Sierra. Walker Pass named after him.
1848 · Kern River named after Edward Kern, cartographer with the John C. Fremont Expedition.
1854 · Gold discovered on Greenhorn Creek and the Kern River
1856 · Keyesville established, site of the Mammoth and Keyes Mines.
1859 · First Settlers on the South Fork named the town of Weldon.
1860 · Whiskey Flat established for the miners of the Big Blue Mine. In 1864 Renamed to Kernville.
1861 · William Scodie built Scodie Store in Onyx. Gold discovered in Kelso Creek and the Piute Mountains.
1861-1865 · U.S. Civil War impacts the Southern Sierras.
1883 · Massacre of 35 Natives occurred south of Kernville.
1866 · Kern County was Formed. Havilah established as County Seat. Moved to Bakersfield in 1870.
1893 · Steven Bartan established Isabella honoring the Queen of Spain.
1904 · The Borel Hydoelectric Power Plant began producing electricity for the Red Car Line in Los Angeles.
1907 · "KR1" Power Plant on the Lower Kern completed.
1821 · "KR3" Power Plant completed.
1926 · Kern Canyon Road

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

completed.
1948 · Isabella Dam Project started by the U.S. Corps of Engineers
1951 · Towns of Kernville & Isabella were moved to their present locations.
1953 · Isabella Dam completed. Reservoir begins to fill.
1966 · Kern River Flood impacts the Kern Valley.
1987 · Kern Valley Historical Society established.
1990 · Kern Valley Museum opened on this site.
1993 · Big Room added to the Museum.
2016 · Erskine Fire devastates the Southern Valley.
2017 · Research Annex built across from the Museum.
2024 · Borel Fire devestates the Town of Havilah.
2025 · Graham Truck is 100 years old.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1834.

Location. 35° 45.313′ N, 118° 25.599′ W. Marker is in Kernville, California, in Kern County. It is on Big Blue Road 0.1 miles west of Kernville Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 49 Big Blue Rd, Kernville CA 93238, 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 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Harley Mine (here, next to this marker); Bob Powers (within shouting distance of this marker); Kernville (approx. 2½ miles

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 7, 2026

2. Kern River Valley History Marker

The marker is on the wall of the museum at far left.

away); Kernville Veterans Memorial (approx. 2½ miles away); Old Kernville (approx. 2.7 miles away); Campsite of Edward Kern (approx. 7½ miles away); Old Isabella (approx. 7½ miles away); Keyesville (approx. 10.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kernville.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 9, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 9, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.