Lone Pine in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Disaster in 1872

Grave of 1872 Earthquake Victims

Photographed By Craig Baker, April 28, 2023

1. Disaster in 1872 Marker

Inscription.
On the date of March 26, 1872, an earthquake of major proportions shook Owens Valley and nearly destroyed the town of Lone Pine.
Twenty seven persons were killed.
In addition to single burials, 16 of the victims were interred in a common grave enclosed by this fence. (Marker Number 507.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Disasters. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1865.

Location. 36° 37.101′ N, 118° 4.111′ W. Marker is in Lone Pine, California, in Inyo County. Marker can be reached from U.S. 395, 0.1 miles south of Pangborne Lane, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located across the highway from the Mt. Whitney Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lone Pine CA 93545, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fred French Family Oak (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wedding of the Waters Pageant

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(approx. ¾ mile away); The Adobe Wall (approx. 0.9 miles away); Lone Pine's 'Movie Man' (approx. one mile away); The Duke and the Dow (approx. one mile away); Mt. Whitney Pack Trains (approx. 1.1 miles away); Lone Pine Film Museum (approx. 1.3 miles away); Lone Pine Pioneer Cemetery (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lone Pine.

More about this marker. Marker and site are located a short walk up a trail. Once up the hill, you can see the grave site and marker. Keep walking and you'll see a wooden fence. This is the burial site of the victims.

Regarding Disaster in 1872. This site was designated California Historical Landmark No. 507 on July 31, 1953.

Also see . . .
1. The Great Earthquake of 1872

Photographed By Denise Boose, February 11, 2012

2. Disaster in 1872 Marker

. The Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce details the earthquake and aftermath. (Submitted on August 8, 2010.)

2. Wikipedia Entry. “The earthquake occurred on a Tuesday morning and leveled almost all the buildings in Lone Pine and nearby settlements. Of the estimated 250–300 inhabitants of Lone Pine, 27 are known to have perished and 52 of the 59 houses were destroyed. One report states that the main buildings were thrown down in almost every town in Inyo County. About 130 kilometers (81 mi) south of Lone Pine, at Indian Wells, Kern County, California, adobe houses sustained cracks. Property loss has been estimated at $250,000 (1872 dollars), or about $30,000,000 in 2016 dollars. As in many earthquakes, adobe, stone and masonry structures fared worse than wooden ones which prompted the closing of nearby Camp Independence which was an adobe structure destroyed in the quake.

“The quake was felt strongly as far away as Sacramento, where citizens were startled out of bed and into the streets. Giant rockslides in what is now Yosemite National Park woke naturalist John Muir,

Photographed By Craig Baker, April 28, 2023

3. Disaster in 1872 Marker

then living in Yosemite Valley, who reportedly ran out of his cabin shouting, "A noble earthquake!" and promptly made a moonlit survey of the fresh talus piles. This earthquake stopped clocks and awakened people in San Diego, California, to the south, Red Bluff, California, to the north, and Elko, Nevada, to the east. The shock was felt over most of California and much of Nevada. Thousands of aftershocks occurred, some severe.” (Submitted on March 25, 2017.)

Photographed By Denise Boose, February 11, 2012

4. Grave Site

Victims Grave image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beth Ann Thornhill, July 23, 2010

5. Victims Grave

Marker at flag pole image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, February 11, 2012

6. Marker at flag pole

March 26, 1988 116 years ago this date, an 8.3 earthquake hit Lone Pine. 27 people died. 16 are buried at this site in a common grave. Alice Meysan Age 11 (family still resides in Independence), Manuel Ybaceta, Anotonia Montoya, Maria Tarrazona & her 3 children. The rest of French, Irish, Chilean, Mexican, Native American ancestry are known but to God. March 26, 1872

Sign at Highway image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, April 28, 2023

7. Sign at Highway

Nothing can be seen from the highway except for this sign.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2010, by Beth Ann Thornhill of Cathedral City, California. This page has been viewed 2,524 times since then and 98 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week March 26, 2017. Photos: 1. submitted on June 14, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on April 24, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 3. submitted on June 15, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on April 24, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 5. submitted on August 7, 2010, by Beth Ann Thornhill of Cathedral City, California. 6. submitted on April 24, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 7. submitted on June 14, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.