Attracted to Water

Attracted to Water. Lava Beds National Monument. , “When I was a child…I played around Tule Lake where the tules and grass grow thick… We used to go out in the tall grass… and look for chub fish… and shoot at (them) with our arrows.” , Peter Schonchin, last surviving Modoc War warrior., The original shoreline of Tule Lake lies just over the rise in front of you. Modoc Indians and settlers lived along the water’s edge for generations. During the Modoc War and the era of the Civilian Conservation Corps, soldiers and enrollees lived here for a short time. Some even died here. Both the Modoc and settlers cherished the resources of Tule Lake, which ultimately created conflict., In the decades after the Modoc War, National Park Service rangers lived and worked where Modoc children once played. Though today’s lake is a fraction of its original size, visitors and residents alike continue to be attracted to this oasis in the high desert. To learn more, walk the short guided trail that begins ahead., (Time Line Displayed at the bottom of the marker:) , Ancient Times to Westward Expansion: , Modoc camps dot the shoreline. , 1850: , First white settlers come to Tule Lake area , 1873 , U.S. Army establishes Gillems Camp during the Modoc War , 1908: , Draining of Tule Lake creates fertile farmland for homesteading families. , 1933: , The Civilian Conservation Corps builds facilities for Lava Beds National Monument. , 1933 to Today: , The National Park Service provides services to visitors exploring the lava beds.