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California Landmark Foundation A volunteer based non-profit that maintains and preserves California History for future generations.

10/15/2026

🐟 The San Joaquin Hatchery is a state-run fish hatchery located in Friant, California, situated right along the San Joaquin River just downstream of the Friant Dam. It serves as one of California's primary facilities for raising trout and inland salmon to stock regional lakes, rivers, and streams. Operated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

What to See and Do
• Feeding the Fish: The absolute highlight for most families is walking along the massive concrete raceways where fish are sorted by size as they grow. Visitors can grab free pellets from provided containers to experience a massive "feeding frenzy". (Note: Guests are asked to take just one handful per person and avoid touching the water or fish for safety.)
• Observe the Lifecycle: You can walk into the Egg House/hatchery building to see incubation tanks and watch the early stages of fish development, tracking them from tiny hatchlings up to full adult sizes.
• Small Fry Children’s Trail: This specialized interactive nature path features a playground, canoe play area, and whimsical outdoor sculptures designed to give kids fun insights into the life of local trout.
• Friant Interactive Nature Site (FINS): The hatchery grounds double as an expansive nature area featuring native vegetation gardens, a wood-carved rainbow trout sculpture, an outdoor amphitheater, and a connecting walking trail system.

History and Conservation
The facility has deep historical roots in local conservation. Originally established at its current site in 1948 following temporary experimental iterations dating back to 1921, the modern facility was formally dedicated in 1955. Today, it works in tandem with the neighboring, state-of-the-art Salmon Conservation and Research Facility (SCARF), which focuses on restoring spring-run Chinook salmon to the San Joaquin River watershed.

Visitor Practicalities
• Hours & Access: The lower grounds, raceways, and restrooms are open daily from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The upper parking lot and FINS trails remain accessible from sunrise to sunset.
• Cost: Both admission and parking are 100% free.
• Pro-Tip: Bring comfortable, sun-protective clothing since paths are fully outdoors and exposed, and pack hand sanitizer for after your fish-feeding adventures!

10/14/2026

Along El Camino Real (1954) is a California travelogue film produced by the California Mission Trails Association. The film functions as a historical and scenic promotional piece, taking viewers on a journey across the 600-mile length of El Camino Real (The King's Highway).

Film Overview & Highlights
The film captures a unique era of post-war California, showcasing a mix of historical preservation and mid-century boom. It documents the route from San Diego to San Francisco, tracking the path originally established by Spanish missionaries to connect California's 21 Franciscan missions.
Key segments and landmarks featured in the film include:
• The Rose Bowl: Footage of over 100,000 spectators jamming into the stadium for the annual Football Classic, with Hollywood stars like Randolph Scott and Fred Astaire in attendance.
• Spanish Missions: Stops at various historical locations, including Mission San Fernando Rey de España and Mission San Buenaventura.
• Agricultural Communities: A look at mid-century local industries, such as Oxnard—then famously promoted as the "Lima Bean Center of the World".
• Cultural Context: The travelogue captures the lifestyle, tourism, and distinct fashion of 1950s California travelers

CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL LANDMARK #0166 FRENCH GULCH THE PLAQUE READS:Founded nearby by French miners in 1849, the town of...
10/13/2026

CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL LANDMARK #0166 FRENCH GULCH
THE PLAQUE READS:

Founded nearby by French miners in 1849, the town of Morrowville, relocated here, was the center of one of the state's richest gold producing areas. Total production was over $20,000,000. One of California's first stamp mills operated at the nearby Franklin Mine. From 1856 to 1858 French Gulch was the trailhead on the western branch of the California-Oregon Trail. St. Rose Catholic Church was founded in 1856. As a supply and stopping place, the town rivaled Shasta.

Location:
French Gulch, CA.
40°41'52.3"N 122°38'17.8"W

Registration Date: 1/11/1935

County: Shasta

10/12/2026

California Landmark Underwater (1970)
Jacksonville was a California Gold Rush mining community located on the Tuolumne River of southwest Tuolumne County. The original alignments of California State Route 49 and California State Route 120 both once passed through the town site of Jacksonville. Jacksonville was razed during 1967-71 to make way for the expanded Don Pedro Lake which inundated the town site.

Construction of the New Don Pedro Project began in 1967 and was completed four years later at a cost of $105 million. Built primarily to store irrigation water, the reservoir has a capacity of 2,030,000 acre-feet and has many additional benefits including power generation, flood control, and recreation. The old dam is still in place, 250 feet below the surface of the full reservoir.

In August of 1970, CBS KPIX 5 went to Jacksonville to speak to some of the holdouts still in town. Understandably, many were not happy with having to leave their homes and businesses. A few months later, the town site was inundated.

Jacksonville is California Historical Landmark #419. The state plaque reads:

Near this site stood the historic town of Jacksonville, now inundated by the waters of Don Pedro Reservoir. The town was settled by Julian Smart, who planted the first garden and orchard in the spring of 1849, and named for Colonel A. M. Jackson. In 1850 it was the principal river town in the area and the center for thousands of miners working the rich bed of the Tuolumne River.

Plaque Location:
Vista point at North approach to Don Pedro Bridge, State Hwy 120, 3.5 mi SE of Chinese Camp, California.
37°50'40.4"N 120°22'55.9"W

Registration Date: 2/28/1949

County: Tuolumne

CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL LANDMARK #0270 KINGSTONTHE PLAQUE READS:Founded in 1856 by L. A. Whitmore, who operated the first...
10/12/2026

CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL LANDMARK #0270 KINGSTON
THE PLAQUE READS:

Founded in 1856 by L. A. Whitmore, who operated the first ferry to cross the Kings River, Kingston became stopping place for Butterfield stages after 1858. A toll bridge superseded the ferry in 1873. On December 26, 1873, Tiburcio Vásquez and his bandit gang made a bold raid, robbing the entire village.

Location:
Kingston Park, Douglas Ave, .4 mi W of 12-3/4 Ave, 1.1 mi SW of Laton, CA.
36°25'24.1"N 119°41'34.3"W

Registration Date: 9/3/1937

County: Kings

Notes:
The plaque is located in a park that was closed by Kings County due to lack of funding. You can still access the park from the street. The remains of the Kingston Bridge are only visible when the river is dry.

Kingston was the first town to be established on what is now Kings County soil, and yet the town of Kingston never was in Kings County. It started as a Tulare County settlement, but was in Fresno County after the formation of the county in 1856. However, no one knew for several years that it was not still in Tulare County. In 1859, the Tulare County supervisors granted O.H. Bliss a license to operate a ferry across the river at that point. The post office was established there in November 1859, supposedly in Tulare County; but during the next month, Visalia people read the shocking news that Kingston was in Fresno County.

The earliest mention of Kingston was the issuance of a ferry license on April 2, 1855 by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors to L.A. Whitmore, who ran a ferry across the Kings River at a location about 1 mile southwest of Laton. (At the time, Kingston was located in Tulare County.) He was also authorized by the county to map a county road from "where the Slough leading from Tulare Lake joins the San Joaquin" (the area along the north side of the river, through Riverdale, Burrel, and up through Mendota to Firebaugh.)

Unfortunately, Mr. Whitmore met an untimely death. In 1859 there was a movement to round up local Indians and move them to reservation lands. Mr. Whitmore was married to a Yokut Indian and had several children. A newspaper article from the Sacramento Union dated February 10, 1859 noted: "L.A. Whitmore, formerly owner of Whitmore's Ferry on Kings River was shot in his own house by Dr. Workman, one of the leaders of the lower Kings River anti-indian men, backed by ten or fifteen of his party for no other cause as yet known than to gratify the evil passion of a mob..."

CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL LANDMARK #0271 - PIONEER CEMETERY This pioneer cemetery was said to have been established in 1851...
10/12/2026

CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL LANDMARK #0271 - PIONEER CEMETERY

This pioneer cemetery was said to have been established in 1851. Most of the graves are unmarked - stones appeared over only three of them in 1936. This cemetery is located almost opposite where the town of North Branch originally stood, before the site was mined for gold.

Location:
2974 CA-12, San Andreas, CA 95249
38°12'30.8"N 120°42'28.8"W

Registration Date: 9/3/1937

County: Calaveras

Notes:
Calaveras cemetery records show 48 unknown souls were reinterred in the Pioneer Cemetery in 1962 from the Poverty Bar Cemetery, which now lay at the bottom of Camanche Reservoir.

10/11/2026

The second half of Huell's desert adventures features the 1996 footage of local desert resident Leonard Knight and his land art creation, Salvation Mountain, near Slab City. As an update to the story of Salvation Mountain, Huell catches up with Leonard Knight to see what else he’s added to Salvation Mountain.

Salvation Mountain is a vibrant, five-story-tall folk art monument located in the Colorado Desert of Imperial County, California, just east of the Salton Sea and at the entrance to the off-grid community of Slab City. Created by artist Leonard Knight over a span of nearly three decades, the massive 150-foot-wide installment is built from local adobe clay, straw, tires, telephone poles, and over 100,000 gallons of latex paint. Crowned by a large cross and the central message "God Is Love," the site is internationally celebrated as a masterpiece of outsider art.

The Story of Leonard Knight
Leonard Knight arrived in the Southern California desert in the mid-1980s after his truck broke down near Niland. What was intended to be a brief stop turned into a life-long mission to spread his message of universal love. After his initial sand-and-cement mountain collapsed in 1989, Knight adapted, using stronger native adobe clay mixed with straw to completely rebuild it. He lived without running water or electricity in his decorated 1939 fire truck on-site until failing health forced him to leave in 2011. Leonard Knight passed away on February 10, 2014. Today, the site is designated a National Folk Art Site and is protected as a Historically Significant Resource by Imperial County.

What to See on the Mountain
• The Main Peak: A cascading wave of colors featuring painted waterfalls, flowers, trees, and bluebirds interwoven with scriptures like the Lord's Prayer and the Sinner's Prayer.
• The Yellow Brick Road: A designated, hand-painted trail that curves up the side of the monument, allowing visitors to safely climb to the 50-foot summit.
• The Hogan and Museum: Domed, cave-like adobe structures adjacent to the main mountain, built from straw bales and tree branches, filled with eclectic art pieces, photographs, and matching folk-art alcoves.

Essential Visitor Information
• Hours & Admission: The monument is open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. Admission is completely free, though donations to the non-profit Salvation Mountain Inc. are highly encouraged to support constant paint restoration.
• Best Time to Visit: The cooler desert months between October and April are highly recommended. Summer temperatures routinely exceed 100°F (and can hit 120°F), making mid-day visits dangerous.
• Crucial Logistics: The site is incredibly remote. Fill up your gas tank before entering Niland, and pack plenty of extra water and snacks, as local services are extremely scarce. Cellular service can be spotty, so downloading offline maps is advised.
• Preservation Rules: Visitors must strictly stay on the designated paths. Walking directly onto the fragile painted adobe faces ruins the artwork and is forbidden. High heels are prohibited on the painted pathways

🚗 Who was Huell Howser:
Huell Howser (1945–2013) was a beloved television personality, actor, and producer best known for hosting, producing, and writing the hit PBS series California's Gold. With his thick Tennessee accent and enthusiastic, homespun interview style, he spent decades exploring the Golden State, capturing the unique history, culture, and ordinary people who made California special. You can find all of Huell's episodes here https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/archives/

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. This clip is made availible for the purposes of education and the teaching of California History.

10/11/2026

EddieWorld in Yermo, California is a famous mega-travel stop and the largest gas station in California. Located right off Interstate 15, it serves as the ultimate pit stop for road trippers driving between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It is widely recognizable by its iconic 65-foot-tall water tower disguised as a giant ice cream sundae

What to Expect Inside
Often called the "Disneyland of Gas Stations," this whimsical 27,000-square-foot oasis feels part Willie Wonka factory and part giant gift shop:
• The Candy Kingdom: A massive 10,000-square-foot section packed with over 1,000 varieties of bulk treats, custom fudge, and international candies.
• Clean Restrooms: They are legendary among frequent I-15 travelers for being pristine, expansive, and heavily maintained.
• Food Options: Forget basic gas station snacks; inside you'll find three fast-casual restaurants serving custom-crafted pizzas, burgers, fresh sushi, hand-scooped ice cream, premium jerky, and a Peet's Coffee station.
• Lakers Memorabilia: Sports fans will appreciate the unique wall decor, which features an authentic piece of the original hardwood court from the Great Western Forum.
• Fuel & EV Charging: Features 26 fuel pumps alongside a robust array of charging options, including an 18-stall Tesla Supercharger hub (which is slated for a massive multi-hundred stall expansion in the future).

Hours & Practical Tips
• Hours: The main store is open daily from 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM Midnight, including holidays. Note: The inside food court restaurants usually close a bit earlier, typically around 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM depending on the season.

10/11/2026

Five Points, California is a small, unincorporated agricultural community located in Fresno County in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. Situated approximately 25 miles northeast of Coalinga at an elevation of 223 feet, the town serves as a notable rural crossroads where California State Routes 145 and 269 intersect.

History and Naming
The community earned its name in the 1920s at the intersection of Mt. Whitney and Lassen Avenues. Initially, the hub handled four distinct directions: north to Madera, west to where Interstate 5 runs today, south toward Huron and Avenal, and east toward Fresno. When a fifth, southwestern road branching toward Coalinga was added, a local named Alberta Hamilton christened the five-way travel junction "Five Points" with a bottle of orange soda. A dedicated U.S. Post Office opened its doors there in 1944 and continues to service the town's single ZIP code, 93624.

Economy and Local Life
Deeply rooted in Central Valley agriculture, the highly fertile soils surrounding Five Points primarily support the production of cotton, processing tomatoes, almonds, and citrus fruits.
• Demographics: The community maintains a highly peaceful, rural atmosphere with a close-knit population of roughly 735 to 800 residents.
• Local Landmarks: Regional history is preserved inside a former local school building which houses the Five Points Historical Museum.
• Recreation: Outdoor enthusiasts regularly use the area as a jumping-off point to explore the nearby Mendota Wildlife Area, a popular regional destination for hiking, birdwatching, and waterfowl hunting.

🚗 Who was Bob Long?
Bob Long was an institution in Fresno, California and a mentor to me and many others. A reporter, anchor, he was even a news director for a while. He was also the creator of one of KSEE 24’s most beloved news series, "On The Map”. Bob Long passed away in 2008, Earl Bradley in 2011 but the stories remain and will live on forever. https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/community/on-the-map/on-the-map-classics/ KSEE24 News A.J. Fox

CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL LANDMARK #0078 CLEAR CREEK THE PLAQUE READS:Five miles up the creek, at Reading's Bar, is the sit...
10/10/2026

CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL LANDMARK #0078 CLEAR CREEK
THE PLAQUE READS:

Five miles up the creek, at Reading's Bar, is the site of the discovery of gold by Major Pierson B. Reading and his Indian laborers in 1848.

Location:
Old Hwy 99 and Canyon Rd, S Redding, CA
40°30'23.0"N 122°22'48.3"W

Registration Date: 12/6/1932

County: Shasta

Address

Fresno, CA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18003987532

Website

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