Historical Markers and War Memorials in Independence, California
Independence is the county seat for Inyo County
Independence is in Inyo County
Inyo County(133) ► ADJACENT TO INYO COUNTY Fresno County(118) ► Kern County(336) ► Mono County(76) ► San Bernardino County(327) ► Tulare County(86) ► Clark County, Nevada(197) ► Esmeralda County, Nevada(23) ► Nye County, Nevada(74) ►
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This auditorium is one of three original buildings remaining here from Manzanar War Relocation Center. As you walk closer, listen for laughter, tears, music—the sounds of celebration and sadness that once echoed through this building’s . . . — — Map (db m122704) HM WM
On Shabbell Lane, 0.3 miles north of U.S. 395, on the right when traveling north.
At the request of settlers, Colonel George Evans led a military expedition to this site on July 4, 1862. Hence its name “Independence”. Indian hostilities ceased and the camp closed. War again broke out in 1865 and the camp was reoccupied as Fort . . . — — Map (db m2954) HM
On West Market Street west of Three Flags Highway (U.S. 395), on the left when traveling west.
Thomas Edwards came to the Owens Valley in 1863, acquired land and founded the township of Independence. He built this house in 1865. It is the oldest house in Inyo County. — — Map (db m52101) HM
On Grant Street at Onion Valley Road on Grant Street.
An oil burning steam locomotive, built by Baldwin in 1911, was purchased by the Southern Pacific R.R. in 1928 to haul passengers and freight along the 300 mile narrow gauge line, known locally as the “Slim Princess”. Jim Butler of Tonopah said, “It . . . — — Map (db m52099) HM
On Edwards Street (U.S. 395) at Inyo Street, on the left when traveling north on Edwards Street.
The year 1861 found Charles Putnam gathering stones along Little
Pine Creek to build a cabin. The simple structure served as a trading
post for local miners and homesteaders who called the settlement
Little Pine. Conflicts between native . . . — — Map (db m225348) HM
On Manzanar Reward Road west of U.S. 395, on the right when traveling south.
From 1942 to 1945, eight US Army guard
towers loomed over the more than 11,000
Japanese Americans held in Manzanar. For
most of that time, US Military Police manned
the towers, a visual reminder that the
unconstitutionally incarcerated . . . — — Map (db m221511) HM
On North Edwards Street (U.S. 395) at East Center Street, on the left when traveling south on North Edwards Street.
Architect: William H. Weeks
Contractor: McCombs and Son
Board of Supervisors
George W. Naylor * Amos Hancock
Thomas Thomson, Jr. * W.V. Butler
Charles Partridge
Accepted: November 8, 1921
The Inyo County Courthouse is . . . — — Map (db m2956) HM
Built originally as a stagecoach depot in 1866, it evolved into a railroad station in 1883 to carry freight and passengers on the Carson & Colorado Railroad line, known locally as the "Slim Princess". It served the Independence community from 1883 . . . — — Map (db m72573) HM
Over the years, this monument has become an icon, inspiring a grass-roots movement to preserve Manzanar and remember the sacrifices of 120,313 Japanese Americans confined by their own government. — — Map (db m70549) HM
On Highway 395, on the right when traveling south.
In the early part of the World War II, 110,000 persons of Japanese ancestry were interned in relocation centers by Executive Order No. 9066, issued on February 19, 1942.
Manzanar, the first of ten such concentration camps, was bounded by . . . — — Map (db m122703) HM WM
Near U.S. 395 at Manzanar Reward Road, on the left when traveling north.
Here at Manzanar's main baseball field,
thousands of fans gathered for epic match-ups
between the Scorpions, Padres, Has Beens, and
other teams in the camp's 12 leagues. Baseball
was a powerful symbol of an American way of
life that boosted . . . — — Map (db m243190) HM
On Market Street at Webster Street, on the right when traveling west on Market Street.
“But if ever you come beyond the borders as far as the town that lies in a hill dimple at the foot of Kearsarge, never leave it until you have knocked on the door of the brown house under the willow-tree at the end of the village street, and there . . . — — Map (db m2955) HM
Early prospectors found promising outcrops in Inyo County. In 1861 the
Russ Mining District was formed on the west slope of the Inyo Mountains between Lone Pine and Independence. The most significant mine
in the district is the Reward Mine, . . . — — Map (db m221507) HM
On Fish Hatchery Road, 1 mile west of U.S. 395, on the right when traveling west.
In 1916, the citizens of Independence
purchased a 40 acre tract of land and
donated it to the State of California
for the building of a fish hatchery.
This structure was the result. The
first trout were produced in 1918, and
since that . . . — — Map (db m218383) HM
On Highway 395 south of Bush Street, on the right when traveling south.
One hundred thirty feet west of this site, Charles Putnam built the first cabin of permanent habitation in what is now Inyo County in August 1861. The building served as a home, trading post, hospital, and “fort” for early settlers, as well as a . . . — — Map (db m2957) HM
Life at Manzanar was uncertain, but the prospect of dying behind barbed wire, far from home, may have been unthinkable. On May 16, 1943, Matsunosuke Murakami, 62, became the first of 150 men, women, and children to die in camp. He and 14 others, . . . — — Map (db m70534) WM
America went to work for the war effort in 1942, and Manzanar was no exception. More than 500 young Japanese Americans wove camouflage nets here for the U.S. Army. Since citizenship was a job requirement, most saw weaving nets as a chance to prove . . . — — Map (db m70551) HM
