Historic Site Tour Brochure 2012`iOf
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400 years ago, La Quinta From the
was the site of Ancient Ancient Lake Cahuilla
Lake Cahuilla's northwest- r:
shoreline to the aBRWDS'
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shoreline and numerous early
Cahuilla Indian encampments. numerous adobe
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CITY OF LA QUIIi TA
HISTORIC SITES TOUR
Vale La Quinta
The original Vale La Quinta Subdivision sales office is now
the cornerstone of the La Quinta Historical Museum. To the
east of the museum stands the original lumber yard and
building.
The Village
The town's original commercial district began with the
Vale La Quinta sales office and lumber yard next to the
community park and one small market along Calle Estado.
The market was located in one of two small adjacent brick
buildings built in 1936 which later housed the Cafe La
Quinta and the Marcella Press newspaper.These buildings
now house the EI Ranchito restaurant.
Cove Casitas
Scattered throughout the Cove are over 50 of the remaining
adobe casitas built in the 1930s as part of the Vale La
Quinta land sales program. Most are still private residences
today, an exception is the La Quinta Palms Realty building
converted from an original residential casita built in 1938.
Keep an eye out along the route to the Bear Creek Trail
site and see how many of the original casitas you can spot
Bear Creek Canyon
Evidence of native habitation in the La Quinta area dates
back 2,000 plus years and is closely related to the previous
existence of Ancient Lake Cahuilla and the proximity of the
Santa Rosa Mountains.The Cahuilla Indians who populated
this area spent time on both the desert floor and in the
Santa Rosa Mountains using trails up Bear Creek Canyon at
the top of the La Quinta Cove.
Rancho Xochimilco ("so-chee-meet-koh )
In 1961, Howard Ahmanson, planted a citrus grove and built
a hacienda style adobe ranch house, known for housing his
collection of Toltec art and statuary, Mr. Ahmanson named
the ranch Rancho Xochimilco. The house and several
examples of his statuary collection can be viewed as part
of the City's Silver Rock Golf Course and clubhouse.
Ancient Lake Cahuilla
For approximately 1,000 years, the Colorado River fed into
the 100 miles long Ancient Lake Cahuilla which as recent
as 400 years ago stretched from La Quinta to the Imperial
Valley. Today you can still see the lake's high waterline on
the rock out croppings next to the Silver Rock clubhouse
and even more prominently throughout the southeastern
portion of La Quinta along the base of the Santa Rosa
Mountains.
Bradshaw Trail/Point Happy
The Bradshaw Trail traveled through La Quinta at Point
Happy where travelers were provided water, livestock fodder
and a place to shelter from wind storms and flash floods.
Point Happy also later became the site of the area's 1st
school house.
La Quinta Hotel
Designed by Gordon Kaufman and built by Walter Morgan,
the La Quinta Hotel became the iconic cornerstone of the
community and namesake of the future City of La Quinta.
Many of the original adobe structures built for the
hotel's opening in 1926 are still used today, several of which
are identified as eligible for listing on the National and
State Registries of Historic Places. This is the perfect place
to end our tour so feel free to take some time here to stroll
among the historic buildings and grounds, dine, and relax. l
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LEGEND
1.8 HISTORIC SITE
VIEWPOINT
IL.A, Q UIINTA.
IID HISTORICAL
SOCIETY PLAQUE
Driving time for the lour is approximately 45 minutes
b Expanded View of the Village Area M 0
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f}\ Calle m J Tampico -
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Calle Nogales �.
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Calle Estado
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Special Note of Thanks
Our sincere thanks to the La Quinta Historical Society for their assistance
with this map including the use of many of its photographs and graphics.
The Society has also established a historical site recognition program in
which the Society recognizes important sites in the City's history with a
La Quinta Historical Society Plaque identifying the site and its role in La
�qaIle Tecate Quinta's history. Sites on this map that have received the Societys recognition
have been so noted on the map.
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