San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo was originally home to the Chumash Indians, who set up their homes along the coast and in the area where the city resides today. Father Junipero Serra, founder of the California missions, established Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa on September 1st, 1772 to convert the natives to Christianity and settle the land in the name of Spain. When California annexed from Mexico in 1822, the mission became secularized and the priests left the area, letting it fall into ruin and lawlessness. Chinese immigrants, marine commerce, railroads, and the California Gold Rush helped to bring people back into the area in the late 1800s. In 1901, San Luis Obispo was chosen as the location to build The California Polytechnic University, which led to further interest in the area. By the 1920s, the town had become popular because of its fair weather, excellent agricultural conditions, and beautiful scenery. The City of San Luis Obispo is now one of the most popular spots for tourism on the Central Coast, due largely to its unique downtown shopping, diverse architecture, quirky sights, and small town feel.
Cambria
The Cambria area was originally owned by the Spanish missionaries of San Miguel, who were forced to leave the area and donate the land to wealthy and powerful individuals when Mexico annexed from California in 1822. A group of spectators bought the land in the 1860s and started to establish a town, including a general store and other businesses which were roughly built from massive slabs of wood. The town, which became known as “Slabtown,” grew rapidly and for a while was one of the most populated areas in San Luis Obispo County. The Great Fire of 1889 destroyed much of the Main Street, however, and the town was further hurt by the railroad companies neglecting the area for other spots along the Central Coast. In 1958, however, Hearst Castle became open to the public, which caused a renewed interest in the beautiful little town. The current town of Cambria (which is the Latin word for Wales, a country in the United Kingdom) was established in the late 1970s and is popular for its art galleries, bakeries, antique shops, and beautiful scenery.
Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach’s original inhabitants were the Chumash Indians, who collected “pizmu,” or tar, for their kayaks. In the 1800s, Jose Ortega was granted the land, and he established “Rancho Pismo,” a cattle and horse farm. The ranch was later given to John Price, a cowhand who worked at the site. Price began to set up hotels and leased land to speculators, who built a wharf and a warehouse by the shore. The city grew from these humble beginnings and by the 1900s, Pismo became known as a raucous and wild town, filled with saloons, brothels, bootlegged alcohol, and dance halls. Later, fishermen discovered the “Pismo Clam,” a large and tasty variety of clam which was found to be a perfect addition to chowder. This, along with the inclusion of a railroad station in the 1920’s, led to the significant growth of the city. Over the years, Pismo Beach has grown to a large tourist destination, mentioned by TV shows, movies, and even Bugs Bunny!
Paso Robles
Paso Robles was originally inhabited by the Salinan Indians, who were known to enjoy the natural hot springs which bubbled underneath the ground in various spots. Franciscan Priests from the nearby San Miguel Mission set up the first mineral baths in the area, which garnered attention from the travelers of the El Camino Real. In 1857, the land was purchased by James and Daniel Blackburn, who set up the hotel “El Paso de Robles” in 1864, complete with a hot spring bath house. The resort was enlarged and expanded in 1891, and with the advent of the railroad, speculators from as far as San Francisco came and began to expand the city. The hotel was visited by many famous people of the era, including Teddy Roosevelt, Bob Hope, Boris Karloff, and even the entire Chicago White Sox team! In 1940 the hotel burnt down, but it was reestablished in 1942 as the “Paso Robles Inn,” which stands even to this day. The early settlers of the 1900s chose almonds as their crop of choice for the area, and for a time Paso Robles was known as “Almond City.” However, when the early winemakers found the soil and the climate of the area produced exceptional wine, the ranch lands and almond orchards of the past were replaced with the vineyards which the city has become so famous for today. |
History
