Learn the Rich History of the Paradise Called Palm Springs
Palm Springs is nestled at the base of the San Jacinto Mountain in Riverside County. But it’s much more than just a city next to a mountain range. The city has a rich, vibrant history dating back 10,000 years. Evidence has been found recently that an ancient Indian tribe that used bows and arrows and weaved baskets survived for a thousand years in the area now called Palm Springs! The real beginning takes root in the mid 1800’s and had helped this city grow into an international vacation oasis in the desert.
It all started when a geologist named William Blake was exploring the region in 1853. He discovered a mineral spring situated between to bunches of palm trees. He and his team were excited at the find of water in the desert and established a route for wagons coming through the area. This route soon helped establish the Bradshaw stage Coach Line and ended up becoming a part of a railroad line by the famous Southern Pacific Railroad. As more visitors were able to see the beauty of this desert area, a town began to bloom.
The Palm Springs Hotel was the first hotel built in the year 1886 and held only 26 guests. This was the beginning of a huge trend that has been built over the years, making Palm Springs the destination that it is in today’s world. Once the hotel was established, other buildings started emerging, including a post office as people chose to settle. The first newspaper and school were established in the early 1900’s and the El Mirador hotel was built, holding up to 300 visitors to the area. A little town had emerged in the middle of the desert!
In the early forties, the area incorporated into a city and elected its first local government, making it official. The desert rest stop had become a city full of promise. During World War II, the U.S. government asked for the city to do its part. General George Patton brought troops into the area, taking over the El Mirador hotel and turning it into an army hospital. This influx of troops coming in and out of Palm Springs brought the construction of the Palm Springs Airport to accommodate the takeoff and landing of a vital military force. The airport still stands today and has grown into taking on international flights from around the world, bringing even more vacationers from all across the globe. As the war ended, the sixties and seventies brought the best of Hollywood’s stars, who turned the town into their vacation playground. The eighties showed a huge influx of retirees who found the warm dry climate appealing.
Today, the city is a booming entertainment paradise. The area offers gambling, world-class entertainment, hundreds of restaurants from fine dining to bistros, golf, tennis and loads of outdoor activities in the year round sun. Vacation homes have recently become popular, allowing visitors to enjoy solitude like the stars from Hollywood’s heyday. The city has become a Mecca for conventions, pro golf tournaments, and other events that nearly take over the city with participants. The city now hosts an international film festival and two major music festivals, which are attended by thousands. All of these features, as well as the small-town feel of the city make Palm Springs the ultimate vacation destination for the elite and working class alike.
Read Kevins Palm Springs Visitors Guide or view his Vacation Rentals in Palm Springs here.
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