In March 1928, the Federal Government established the first and only experimental station in the United States devoted solely to research on the breeding and raising of rabbits on a five-acre property donated by A. B. Miller of Fontana. The station successfully pioneered new techniques of rabbit care and breeding until 1965 when the City of Fontana acquired the property for use as a senior citizens facility.
This is California Historical Landmark #950, it was located at 8384 Cypress Avenue in Fontana, California and was missing when I tried to get photos in November 2025.
El Monte, on the bank of the San Gabriel River, played a significant part in California’s early pioneer history. It was first an encampment on the Old Spanish Trail, an extension of the trail from Missouri to Santa Fe. By the 1850’s some began to call El Monte the “End of the Santa Fe Trail.” Early in that decade a permanent settlement was esablished here by immigrants from Texas. The first settlement in Southern California founded by citizens of the United States.
This is California Historical Landmark #975, it was located at 3575 Santa Anita Avenue in El Monte, California and was missing when I tried to get photos in April 2026.
Exactly 150 years ago American families adherents Of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints were driven from Nauvoo, then the largest city of Illinois Created by them out of marsh lands along the Mississippi River. Their goal was a high desert valley at the mouth Of the great salt lake. There they could worship god According to the dictates of their council.
En-route and at Council Bluffs Iowa during late June And early July 1846 discussions with federal officials resulted in the enlistment of 500 volunteers as soldiers In the army of the united states to march to California in Defense of its people.”
After completing the longest infantry march in military history and without firing a shot in mortal combat, they arrived here in January of 1847. They were thereafter garrisoned at the Mission San Luis Rey.
Their heritage was in service and virtue. They built roads, irrigation ditches, homes and Fort Moore in Los Angeles. They Harvested crops and built mills. Leaders and citizens offered them great inducements to re-enlist. Some did and their legacy remains in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Sacramento, San Francisco and other cities of the Golden State.
The Spirit of these individuals is epitomized by the fact that the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill was reported by “Battalion men” who after fulfilling their contracts, left the riches of the world behind to return to the hardships of building “Zion.”
Not unlike the devotion to conscience of the great Catholic missionaries who have humbly sacrificed and served on these premises, the legacy left for those of us who have erected and visit this monument is a spiritual one.
We therefore declare that the monument we now establish testifies to the world of our commitment to lead spiritual lives patterned after those saints who preceded us – lives of virtue, honesty and morality. May such conduct of all who visit and serve within sight of these premises reflect the principals of the “Master Builder” whose Kingdom we ever vigilantly seek to establish.
“One hundred fifty years later, as youths and adults, we Place this monument to these spiritual goals of our march Through life. We believe this personal memorial would be More fitting in their sight, and we dedicates it stride by stride, Imprint by imprint in every faithful footstep.
Families Of The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints Erected: June 26, 1996 Dedicated: January 25, 1997 Carlsbad California Mission Escondido South Stake Carlsbad Stake Poway Stake Del Mar Stake Riverside West Stake Escondido Stake Vista Stake
The oldest settlement in Tehachapi Valley, known as ‘Old Town,’ was established here during the 1860s. It was long an important station on the road between Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley. The community began to decline when residents gradually removed to nearby Greenwich, later renamed Tehachapi, after completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1876.
From this spot may be seen a portion of the world-renowned Loop completed in 1876 under the direction of William Hood, Southern Pacific railroad engineer. In gaining elevation around the central hill of the Loop, a 4,000-foot train will cross 77 feet above its rear cars in the tunnel below.
In front of you is the world famous Tehachapi Loop which is about halfway upgrade to the Tehachapi Pass. This steep line averages 2.2% in gradient in its 28 miles of length. This feat of civil engineering genius was crowning achievement of civil engineer William Hood of the Southern Pacific Railway Company. It is one of the seven wonders of the railroad world.
The Tehachapi Pass Railroad Line was cut through solid and decomposed granite by up to 3000 Chinese laborers from Canton, China. They used picks, shovels, horse drawn carts and blasting powder. This line, which climbs out of the San Joaquin Valley and through the Tehachapi Mountains had 18 tunnels, 10 bridges and numerous water towers for the old steam locomotives. It was completed in less than 2 years time under the leadership of civil engineer J.B. Harris, Chief of Construction, a remarkable feat.
This line was part of the last and final link of the first railroad line connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles. It was a primary factor in the early growth of the City of Los Angeles and the State of California.
This single track line, essentially unchanged, is still in constant use today, 122 years after its completion. It passes an average of 36 freight trains each day. This attests to the superior job of both engineering and construction done by the two civil engineers and the Chinese laborers.
Dutch Flat was first settled by German brothers, Charles and Joseph Dornbach, and their wives, who built a log cabin on this site in the Spring of 1851.
In 1859, the Dornbachs donated land for a schoolhouse to be built. The school operated continuously until 1962. Residents built three schoolhouses on this site. It now serves as the Dutch Flat Community Center.
