What the Plaque/Guide Says:
At the time of white contact the principal villages of the native Tolowa Indians of northern Del Norte County were located at Battery Point in Crescent City (Ta’atun), Pebble Beach (Meslteltun), south of Point St. George (Tatintun), and north of Point St. George (Tawiatun). The major villages were almost completely independent economic units.
More about California Historical Landmark #649:
The Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni’ people lived north of the Smith River (named by Jedediah Smith for Jedediah Smith), opposite of the Yurok to the south. They revered the river that fueled their livelihoods and saw its mouth as the place where the world began! They spoke an Athabaskan or Na-Dené dialect, connecting them to Alaska and Arizona, and traded in dentalia shells.
Like many tribes, they were brought to the brink of extinction by introduced diseases, abusive Acts, broken treaties, and kidnappings of children, but today, after much persistence, there are over 1,600 federally recognized Dee-ni’ living once more in their homeland!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Become a member of the Del Norte County Historical Society!
- Donate to the Tribal Historic Preservation Office!
- 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!
How Do I Get There?
1880 N Pebble Beach Dr
Crescent City, CA 95531
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Whenever the mood strikes you!