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| Landmark #270 | Kings County | Visited: February 18, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque in a park! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Founded in 1856 by L. A. Whitmore, who operated the first ferry to cross the Kings River, Kingston became stopping place for Butterfield stages after 1858. A toll bridge superseded the ferry in 1873. On December 26, 1873, Tiburcio Vásquez and his bandit gang made a bold raid, robbing the entire village.
OTHER TIDBITS: Mr. Whitmore came to this area to raise cattle in 1854, not only creating the first ferry but also the first town in what is now Kings County. The town itself, however, was never in Kings County! It was originally in the bottom of Tulare County, then became part of Fresno County in 1856. It wasn’t until 1893 that Kings County existed at all! Mr. Whitmore has a tragic story with a silver lining. When the US Cavalry started rounding up all of the Native Americans in the area, they came for Mrs. Whitmore, who happened to be Yokut herself! When Mr. Whitmore resisted them, the cavalry shot him! Because of this incident, the local Native Americans ended up not being shipped to reservations and stayed in their native land! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Kingston Park Douglas Ave, 0.4 mi W of 12 3/4 Ave 1.1 mi SW of Laton, CA 93230 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~211mi (340km) — 3.6hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |