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

Alabama Gates

Photographed By Alvis Hendley, March 4, 2016

1. Alabama Gates Marker

Inscription. The Alabama Gates and gate house were constructed in 1913 when the Los Angeles Aqueduct was built to dewater the aqueduct when maintenance is necessary. On November 16, 1924, seventy or more local citizens seized the aqueduct at the Alabama Gates and diverted the city's water supply through the gates into the dry Owens River to publicize the concerns of Owens Valley residents. Four days later the water was voluntarily allowed to again flow into the aqueduct. Over the years, attempts to reconcile the city's water needs and the concerns of valley residents have moved from confrontation to negotiation.

Erected 1992 by Slim Princess Chapter #395 of E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Environment • Natural Resources • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 16, 1924.

Location. 36° 40.581′ N, 118° 6.03′ W. Marker is near Lone Pine, California, in Inyo County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of U.S. 395 and Los Angles Aqueduct Road, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located on unpaved Los Angles Aqueduct Road just west of US 395. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lone Pine CA 93545, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Weaving for the War (approx. 4.2 miles away); Disaster in 1872 (approx. 4.4 miles away); Manzanar (approx. 4.4 miles away); A Community's Living Room (approx. 4.4 miles away); Fred French Family Oak (approx. 4.6 miles away); Icon of Confinement (approx. 4.6 miles away); Manzanar Baseball Field (approx. 4.6 miles away); Legacy (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lone Pine.

Regarding Alabama Gates. Alabama Gates and Gatehouse are located on the west side of US 395 about ¼-mile south of the marker and are clearly visible from US 395. The gates are named after the nearby Alabama Hills. The Owens Valley Water Wars inspired the movie Chinatown directed by Roman Polanski.

Also see . . .
1. Valley Rebellion. Page at OwensValleyHistory.com with an illustrated history of the rebellion. Excerpt:

All Southern California is Watching with keen interest the drama that is being enacted in the Owens valley with ranchers on one side and the great city of Los Angeles on the Other.

It is a drama that has been enacted on a smaller scale many times in California, with water as the cause of contest. Litigation over water rights has often been hastened or hindered when one of the disagreeing parties has taken the law in its own hands.

Photographed By Alvis Hendley, March 4, 2016

2. Alabama Gates Marker
The ranchers of the Owens valley have taken the law into their own hands deliberately. They want to bring to a head the controversy that has long existed.

(Submitted on December 11, 2021.)

2. Wikipedia Entry for California Water Wars. Excerpt:

After these water rights were secured [by the city], inflows to Owens Lake were heavily diverted, which caused the lake to dry up by 1924. Farmers and ranchers rebelled. A series of provocations by Mulholland were, in turn, followed by corresponding threats from local farmers, and the destruction of Los Angeles property. Finally, a group of armed ranchers seized the Alabama Gates and dynamited part of the system, letting water return to the Owens River.

(Submitted on December 11, 2021.)

Photographed By Craig Baker, April 28, 2023

3. Alabama Gates Marker

Alabama Gates and Gatehouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Alvis Hendley, November 2, 2012

4. Alabama Gates and Gatehouse

The Alabama Gates are located about 500 meters south of the marker on the west side of US 395.

Los Angeles Aqueduct Near Alabama Gates image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Alvis Hendley, November 2, 2012

5. Los Angeles Aqueduct Near Alabama Gates

Ranchers from Bishop in Possession of the L.A. Acqueduct image. Click for full size.

By William Detrick. Public Domain, Rich McCutchan Archives via OwensValleyHistory.com, 1924

6. Ranchers from Bishop in Possession of the L.A. Acqueduct

Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 1,208 times since then and 125 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week December 12, 2021. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 24, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. 3. submitted on June 15, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4, 5. submitted on March 24, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. 6. submitted on December 11, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.