Chimney Rock was designated a
California Historic Landmark
A California Historical Landmark (CHL) is a building, structure, site, or place in California that has been determined to have statewide historical landmark significance.
Criteria
Historical significance is determined by meeting at least one of ...
(No.737) on June 6, 1960. It is located near
Lucerne Valley, California
Lucerne Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) and valley landform in the southern Mojave Desert, in western San Bernardino County, California.
Geography
The geographic valley is defined by the surrounding Granite Mountains, Ord Mountains, ...
in the mountains north of the Rabbit Springs Dry Lake and
California State Route 18
State Route 18 (SR 18) is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. It serves as a primary route into the San Bernardino Mountains, both from the Riverside–San Bernardino metropolitan area from the south and the Mojave Desert from the n ...
near the Rabbit Springs Road junction.
[Lucerne Valley Blog: "Chimney Rock"]
by Cindy Lazenby . accessed 12 June 2016. It is the site of the last battle between immigrant settlers and a
Native American tribe
In the United States, an American Indian tribe, Native American tribe, Alaska Native village, tribal nation, or similar concept is any extant or historical clan, tribe, band, nation, or other group or community of Native Americans in the Unit ...
in the Mojave Desert.
[Waymarking.com: Chimney Rock — Lucerne Valley]
(CA historical marker # 737) . accessed 12 June 2016. Conflicts between Indians and white settlers over the rich lands of the San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a high and rugged mountain range in Southern California in the United States. Situated north and northeast of San Bernardino and spanning two California counties, the range tops out at at San Gorgonio Mountain â ...
ended in the battle at Chimney Rock on February 16, 1867. The Indians defended themselves against the settlers, but in the end retreated into the desert. An historical marker
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, or in other places referred to as a historical marker, historic marker, or historic plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other ...
is beside Highway 18, next to the welcome sign on the town's western border.
Background
As settlers entered the area of Lucerne Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a high and rugged mountain range in Southern California in the United States. Situated north and northeast of San Bernardino and spanning two California counties, the range tops out at at San Gorgonio Mountain â ...
, conflict with local Native Americans started. Polito Spanish settlers were killed in 1863 in an Indian attack at Little Sand Canyon. As the Indians departed they took Sam Pine's mule. In Cajon Pass
Cajon Pass (; Spanish: ''Puerto del Cajón'' or ''Paso del Cajón'') is a mountain pass between the San Bernardino Mountains to the east and the San Gabriel Mountains to the west in Southern California. Created by the movements of the San Andreas ...
that year a Doctor Smith was shot in an attack. In 1866 Ed Parrish, Pratt Whiteside and Nephi Bemis were killed by Chemehuevi Indians while watching the Mojave River Dunlap ranch's cattle. In 1867 Bill Kane's house was burnt down and his horse taken. Bill Kane and his posse had a shoot out the next day. On seeing as many as 200 Indians, a larger posse was formed. The larger posse including: W.F. Holcomb, Bill Kane, Jack Martin, John St. John, Samuel Bemis, Edwin Bemis, Bill Bemis, Harrison Bemis, Bart Smithson, John McGarr, Johnathan Richardson, Frank Blair, George Armstrong, George Birdwell, Joseph Mecham, Jack Ayres, George Miller, David Wixom, ‘Noisy’ Tom Enrufty, Sam Button, a preacher named Stout, Stout's son and his son-in-law, Griffith. Johnathan Richardson was shot in the shootout on February 16, 1867, but survived. Griffith broke his arm, but survived. In all there were 32 days of tracking and fighting.
Markers
Marker at the site reads:
*''Conflicts between Indians and white settlers over the rich lands of the San Bernardino Mountains culminated in The Battle at Chimney Rock on February 16, 1867. Although the Indians defended themselves fiercely, they were forced to retreat into the desert. In the years following, the Indians' traditional mountain food-gathering areas were lost to white encroachment.'' Erected 1986 by State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with Billy Holcomb Chapter No. 1069, E Clampus Vitus, Lucerne Valley Museum Association, and Lucerne Valley Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 737.)
See also
*
*History of San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California, was named in 1810.
Earliest inhabitants
San Bernardino's earliest known inhabitants were Serrano Indians (Spanish for "people of the mountains") who spent their winters in the valley, and their summers in the cool ...
* Chemehuevi traditional narratives
Chemehuevi traditional narratives include myths, legends, tales, and oral histories preserved by the Chemehuevi people of the Mojave Desert and Colorado River of southeastern California and western Arizona.
Chemehuevi oral literature is known pri ...
* Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas
References
{{reflist
External links
Chimney Rock
ohp.parks.ca.gov
1867 in California
California Historical Landmarks