Tule River Stage Station!

Tule River Stage Station
Landmark #473 Tulare County Visited: July 13, 2013 Plaque?  YES! 🙂
What is it? A plaque commemorating a stage station in what is now Porterville!
What makes it historical? THE GUIDE SAYS: Here Peter Goodhue operated an emigrant trail stopping place on the bank of the Tule River from 1854 until the river changed its course in 1862. This became a Butterfield Overland and mail stage station, 1858-61. It was kept in 1860 by R. Porter Putnam, who in 1864 founded Porterville.

OTHER TIDBITS: Porter Putnam was a hog farmer who drove his pigs between what is now Lindsay and Exeter, and along the way, he found Mr. Goodhue’s stage station on the banks of the Tule River. With water being a precious commodity in the area (except during the massive flooding of 1861-1862), Mr. Putnam bought 40 acres from Mr. Goodhue and started laying out the town of Porterville, which is still thriving today!

How can I Help the Helpers? HERE’S HOW:

  • Become a member of the Tulare County Historical Society!
  • Donate to the Tulare County Historical Society!
  • Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
Where is this place? LISTED DIRECTIONS:
Porterville Public Park
SW corner of N Main St and W Henderson Ave
Porterville, CA 93257

ANNOTATIONS:
The plaque is on the southeast corner of the park, close to Laurel Avenue!

From Los Angeles: ~162mi (261km) — 2.7hrs
From Sacramento: ~236mi (380km) — 4hrs
From San Diego: ~282mi (454km) — 4.7hrs
From San Francisco: ~253mi (408km) — 4.3hrs

When should I go? Whenever the mood strikes you!

Tule River Stage Station

Click here to see more California historical landmarks!

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