Near Big Bear City in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Holcomb Valley

Photographed By Michael Kindig, June 18, 2011

1. Holcomb Valley Marker

Inscription. Southern California's largest gold rush followed the discovery of rich placer deposits by William F. Holcomb and Ben Choteau on May 4, 1860. Miners rushed to the valley and established boom towns. Belleville, the largest, rivaled San Bernardino in population and almost became the county seat. Violence and hangings were common in this remote valley. Over time, major placer and quartz mining declined although some activity continues today.

Erected 1990 by State Department of Parks and Recreation, Billy Holcomb Chapter No. 1069 E Clampus Vitus, Big Bear Valley Historical Society, and U.S. Forest Service. (Marker Number 619.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1942.

Location. 34° 15.894′ N, 116° 50.671′ W. Marker is near Big Bear City, California, in San Bernardino County. Marker can be reached from Greenway Drive, 0.3 miles north of Big Bear Boulevard, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at the Big Bear Valley Historical Museum, open June-Sept Wed/Sat/Sun

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10-4. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 800 Greenway Dr, Big Bear City CA 92314, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Main Museum Building (a few steps from this marker); 5 Stamp Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Woodland Club Caddy Shack (within shouting distance of this marker); Grizzly Come Home Campaign (approx. 2.3 miles away); Big Bear Valley (approx. 3 miles away); Bellevill Holcomb Valley (approx. 3½ miles away); Big Bear Solar Observatory (approx. 4.4 miles away); Jenks Lake (approx. 7.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Big Bear City.

Regarding Holcomb Valley. Four towns grew after Billy Holcomb's gold discovery in the valley. Belleville was on the east side of the valley. The other towns near Belleville were: Union Town, 2 miles northeast; Clapboard Town, 2 miles southwest and Bloody Gulch, 2 miles northwest. Blacksmith Jed Van Dusen was hired by the miners to build a road west from Holcomb Valley, then northwest by Coxey's Ranch to Rock Springs, then west over the desert to the Mojave River and toward Cajon Pass where it met John Brown's toll road.
SOURCE: Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069 35th Anniversary Plaque Book by Phillip Holdaway

Also see . . .

Museum and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, June 18, 2011

2. Museum and Marker

1. William Francis Holcomb (1831 - 1912) - Find a Grave Memorial. He was born in Tippecanoe, Iowa to Zephaniah and Mary (Collins) Holcomb and arrived in California in 1850. He struck gold and hunted bear in the San Bernardino mountain valley now bearing his name. (Submitted on December 20, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California.)

2. Holcomb Valley Near Big Bear. A YouTube driving tour complete with photos. (Submitted on July 21, 2018.)

Additional commentary.
1. The Town of Belleville
About three miles north of Big Bear Lake lies Holcomb Valley. It's now a peaceful sheltered area, but in the 1860's it was the scene of the largest gold rush in Southern California. One of the landmarks of the area is the site of Belleville, the valley's largest town, reputed to have reached a population of 10,000 and to have been a hotbed of Confederate sympathizers during the Civil War. By 1862 Belleville was challenging San Bernardino to become the county seat. The story goes that Belleville lost in the election only because a ballot box from Belleville was "accidentally" lost in a bonfire on election night.
Source: Historic Spots in California 5th Edition.

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Photographed By Michael Kindig, June 18, 2011

3. Big Bear Valley Historical Museum
Submitted December 29, 2011, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.

Big Bear Historical Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, June 18, 2011

4. Big Bear Historical Museum

Photographed By Craig Baker, May 5, 2022

5. Road Sign

Located on Polique Canyon Road / 2N09 at Highway 38, with directions to the Valley, not the marker.

William F. (Billy) Holcomb image. Click for full size.

San Bernardino Historical & Pioneer Society

6. William F. (Billy) Holcomb

William F. Holcomb Headstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, January 29, 2011

7. William F. Holcomb Headstone

W.F. Holcomb 1931 - 1912
Nancy C. Holcomb 1838 - 1919

Pioneer Memorial Cemetery
211 East 9th Street
San Bernardino CA

Photographed By Michael Kindig, May 6, 1990

8. Event Patch

Credits. This page was last revised on November 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 2,057 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 19, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 24, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 5. submitted on May 9, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on December 20, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 7. submitted on December 29, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 8. submitted on August 8, 2016, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.