A Brief History of San Bernardino

The San Bernardino Valley has been a destination for pioneer families for over one hundred fifty years. You’re now invited to be a pioneer of the new millennium, to explore those hidden areas of Southern California that so many travelers miss. Discover the hidden “gold” of the Golden State in San Bernardino where films, TV shows and live theater happen before your very eyes!

Explore the following topics:

	Indian Settlements		Gold!
	The Arrowhead		Rail Roads
	The Missionary Period		Route 66
	The Ranchero Era		Stater Bros.
	The Mormons		Fast Food's Beginnings

For more information contact the Bureau at:
For more information contact the Bureau at:
San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau
1955 Hunts Lane
San Bernardino, California 92408
Phone: (800) 867-8366
Email to tina@san-bernardino.org

Indian Settlements - Indians originally occupied the San Bernardino Valley. In the early 1800s, the two tribes documented by the first outside explorers were the Serranos and the Cahullia Indians.

Existing evidence indicates that Indian tribes may have dwelled in the San Bernardino Valley for more than 4000 years. Hikers can still take a trip to the Lake Arrowhead area and explore the Indian mortars at a site called Rock Camp.

The Arrowhead – One of the most famous attractions in the Inland Valley is the Arrowhead, a natural landmark easily seen near the base of the San Bernardino Mountains. The Arrowhead is 1,115 feet in length and 396 feet in width. Though the outline is so perfect it may appear to be man-made or artificial, the phenomenon is, in fact, natural.

The Arrowhead is circled in red.

Many legends exist about the Arrowhead. The most ancient legend, perhaps, is one handed down from the Indians. The story goes that the Great Spirit had an arrow, which, like the Israelite’s Pillar of Fire, was to guide them to the spot where they were to live. The Great Spirit having selected the place, fixed the arrow to mark it forever. Hmm…

The Missionary Period (1819-1821) The San Bernardino area was an outpost for the San Gabriel Mission. During this time, missionaries established a rancho, and later an Asistencia Mission where local Indian tribes were encouraged to come to learn how to plant and irrigate crops. Today, a reconstructed version of the original Asistencia is located on Barton Road in Redlands.

The Ranchero Era (1842-1851) Indian vaqueros inhabited the San Bernardino Valley during the Ranchero Era. Life on the rancheros revolved around the raising of cattle. Accounts of life on the Spanish ranchos stress hospitality of the people, fiestas and rodeos.

The Mormons (1851-1857) A Mormon contingent of 500 settled in San Bernardino three years before the city was officially incorporated. At that time the city officially incorporated, Mormons comprised 75% of San Bernardino's population.

In 1857, Brigham Young called approximately sixty percent of the Mormons back to Utah.

Gold! (1860s) In 1860 William F. Holcomb filed five gold claims in an area now known as Holcomb Valley, resulting in a major gold rush.

Holcomb Valley was one of the largest gold findings in Southern California. Miners poured into the mountains through San Bernardino in search of their fortunes. For a time, Belleville, a mining town in Holcomb Valley, was the largest city in Southern California with 10,000 residents. To this day the main gold “vein” has yet to be discovered. The Valley remains much the same today and gold is still found by “weekend miners” who make the trek with their pans and equipment.

Rail Roads (1880s) With the arrival of the railroads, San Bernardino changed from a sleepy town, whose first depot was a boxcar, to an enterprising city.

In 1883, the Southern Pacific arrived in Colton. In 1885, the Santa Fe completed its line through the Cajon Pass into the city itself. By the 1890s, San Bernardino was becoming a railroad town and import trade center. In 1918, Santa Fe built a beautiful depot which is currently being restored to its original mission revival style.

Today, the railroad continues to serve business, visitors and commuters with Metrolink routes to Los Angeles, Orange County, and the beach.

Route 66 (1926 - present) In 1926, a major highway was completed connecting Chicago and Santa Monica. Bearing the designation US Route 66, it covered 2,448 miles and passed through eight states. Route 66 was THE major route for vehicle travel from the populated areas of the Midwest to Southern California.

The Route still exists and passes through San Bernardino on its way to Santa Monica where it ends. San Bernardino was made quite famous by all of the excitement of the “Mother Road” and was the destination to "get your kicks on Route 66."

During the third weekend in September, the Route comes alive as San Bernardino celebrates with the annual "Route 66 Rendezvous." The Rendezvous is a four-day, three-night cruising car festival featuring over 2,400 classic and custom vehicles. This event draws over 500,000 spectators who come to experience music, food, family fun and classic cars in historic downtown San Bernardino.

For more information visit www.route-66.org

Stater Bros. (1936 - present) Founded in 1936 in Yucaipa, Stater Bros. Markets is the largest Supermarket Chain in the Inland Empire and the largest private employer. Of its 150 Supermarkets, 46 are located in San Bernardino County.

Fast Foods Beginnings (1940's) What does McDonald's, Taco Tia, Taco Bell, Del Taco and Der Weinerschnitzel all have in common? They all started in San Bernardino.

For a timeline history of McDonald's, click here

For the history of Taco Tia, Taco Bell, Del Taco and Der Weinerschnitzel, click here