On McConnell Road 1.3 miles north of E. Evan Hewes Hwy (County Route S80), on the left when traveling north.
In 1908 Hardy McConnell and son, Leslie, (A Native Son) left Temescal Canyon, near Corona, enroute to settle in Imperial Valley, driving two teams of horses pulling wagons, hauling farm implements, chickens and leading a cow.
Fourteen days later . . . — — Map (db m81635) HM
On Grays Wells Road 3.6 miles west of Interstate 8, on the left when traveling west.
(Panel 1)
In the beginning
1915 - 1926
The story of the Plank Road began with the era of automobile transportation and a spirit of competition between the cities of San Diego and Los Angeles. San Diego was determined to become . . . — — Map (db m185972) HM
1847 First fire-brick structure in San Diego. Constructed by Mormon Battalion.
1849 Headquarters of the U.S. Boundary Commission
1850 Served as courthouse, church, school, and polling place over next two decades. . . . — — Map (db m84183) HM
On Grays Well Road, on the right when traveling east.
This unique plank road seven miles long was the only means early motorists had for crossing the treacherous Imperial Sand Dunes. The eight by twelve foot sections were moved with a team of horses whenever the shifting sands covered portions of the . . . — — Map (db m50682) HM
Near Frontage Road 0.3 miles west of Imperial Highway.
The Imperial Valley College Desert Museum represents the creative vision of noted archaeologist and anthropologist Jay Crawford von Werlhof (1923-2009)
A prolific author, von Werlhof wrote many scholarly books and articles on the archaeology . . . — — Map (db m82451) HM
Near Prison Hill Road 0.5 miles north of Harold C. Giss Parkway.
Across the Colorado River is "Indian Hill," the site of La Purisima Concepcion mission. Built in 1780 by Spanish explorers, it was destroyed in 1781 when native Quechans revolted, killing all European males. Nothing is left of that structure. . . . — — Map (db m158369) HM
On Kumeyaay Highway (Interstate 8) west of Silsbee Road, on the right when traveling west.
On Friday January 15, 1847 the Mormon Battalion, a volunteer unit of the Army of the West, crossed Interstate Highway 8 approximately seven miles west of this point. Lieutenant Colonel Philip St. George Cooke commanded this battalion when the . . . — — Map (db m191654) HM WM
On Penitentiary Avenue 0.5 miles north of East 1st Street, on the right when traveling north.
In 1913 after strong campaigning from the citizens of Yuma, Representative Carl Hayden secured funding for this bridge. When completed, it was the only highway bridge across the Colorado River for 1,200 miles. It was partially funded by the Office . . . — — Map (db m46786) HM
On Ben Hulse Highway (State Highway 78) 38 miles north of Interstate 8, on the left when traveling north.
This highway parallels the old Indian trail, still visible from here, connecting the Imperial and Palo Verde Valleys.
The grateful people of Imperial County honor the memory of our beloved Senator Ben Hulse, who worked untiringly for the people . . . — — Map (db m57702) HM
Once connected to the Gulf of California, waters within the Salton Basin extended nearly to Palm Springs. Because of deposits from the silt laden Colorado River, the north end of the gulf (now in Imperial County) was sealed off and Lake Cahuilla was . . . — — Map (db m78567) HM
Near Center of The World Plaza 0.1 miles north of Frontage Road, on the left when traveling north.
A 1533 expedition sent by Hernan Cortes discovered Baja California,
leading to the name "California" and the belief that it was the famed
Island of California which then appeared on maps of the era.
Exploration and Cartography
. . . — — Map (db m165827) HM
Bert Vaughn of Jacumba built the stone tower in 1922-23 to commemorate the pioneers and road and railroad builders who opened the area. In the 1930s W.T. Ratcliffe carved the stone animal figures which lurk in the rocks surrounding the tower, . . . — — Map (db m149171) HM
From 1862-70, Peter Larkin and Joe Stancliff used a stone house about a mile north of here as a store from which ox teams pulled wagons up a 30% grade. The San Diego and Fort Yuma Turnpike Co. used the site as a toll road station until 1876. The . . . — — Map (db m50232) HM
Thin black lines indicate changes in relevance. Between each pair of lines entries are ordered geographically but all have the same relevance.
* Inflectional forms of words are their plurals, singulars, and possessives as well as gramatical tenses and similar variations.
