Adventure 051, Site 044 – Los Banos

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 044 – Los Banos

California Landmark Number: 550

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 19, 2012

Location:

Latitude: : 37°03′30″N

Longitude: 120°51′00″W

Address: 800 Block of East Pacheco Boulevard in Los Banos Park, Los Banos, CA

 Description:

Since when is a town a historical landmark? For the longest while, Thing One thought Los Banos meant the town of the moths. Way back when Thing One was in Boy Scouts we passed through Los Banos and remember there were these giant moths. But now Thing One realize, and after a couple Spanish classes, that los banos means The Baths. What we found by reading the plaque is the reason for the name was that the Spanish padres would wander over to this area to take a bath. Which makes sense because we found a trail on the south side of San Luis Reservoir called the Trail of the Padres. Now the mystery is what were they doing so far away from the El Camino Real?



But that is not the only history for this city. It ranges from Moraga and his Spanish troops all the way to American troops stopping at the baths. Charles Young and his Buffalo troops on the way from the Presido in San Francisco stopped here for seven days to refresh themselves on the way to guard the newly formed Sequoia National Park. There will be a celebration of this next year on May 20^th in Los Banos.



(Sort of interesting that a city can be a historical site)



Text on Plaque: Los Banos Los Baños (The Baths) del Padre Arroyo was a favorite place for padres from San Juan Bautista Mission during their travels to the San Joaquin Valley. Visited as early as 1805 by Spanish explorers, its name was changed to Los Banos Creek by later American emigrants. The town of Los Banos was established at its present site in 1889 after the location of the post office of Los Banos near the creek in 1874. Registered Historical Landmark No. 550 Plaque placed by California State Park Commission in cooperation with Los Banos Parlor No. 206 Native Sons of the Golden West and the City of Los Banos. April 25, 1957






References:

• Los Banos History
  
• More Los Banos History
  
• Wikipedia
  
• Noehill
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
  
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
  
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
  
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
  
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  
• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)