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. This mineral spring, nestled within two bunches of palm trees, was discovered in 1853 by William Blake, an exploring geologist. Excited to find water, he and his team established the first wagon trail which made way for the Bradshaw Stage Coach line which brought more visitors to the Coachella valley. As more visitors came to the valley, the construction of a railroad line by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company gave way for construction of a true settlement.
The first hotel, appropriately named The Palm Springs Hotel, was built to hold a mere 26 visitors to the area, but that was all it took. This was the beginning of something wonderful in the Coachella Valley. In the early 1900’s, as more visitors came to the area, a post office, school and even a more fitting hotel was built. The El Mirador Hotel was built to accommodate up to 300 guests flowing into the desert area at that time. In the mid-thirties, a committee was formed that led to the incorporation of the little community into the city now known as Palm Springs, California.
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.
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