Red Hill!

Red Hill
Landmark #203 Orange County Visited: October 21, 2012 Plaque?  YES! 🙂
What is it? A small plaque in a school parking lot!
What makes it historical? THE GUIDE SAYS: In early descriptions it was known as Cerrito de las Ranas, meaning the Hill of the Frogs. In the 1890s this hill became the scene of mining excitement. Its soil composition, very red in color, had caused early American settlers to name it Red Hill.

OTHER TIDBITS: Local tribes called this rock Katuktu, which meant “place of refuge,” as it was widely believed that many tribes had gathered here to escape a giant flood and their fires had turned the hill red! Today, we know that the hill’s red color comes from its cinnabar content, and several attempts were made to mine mercury from it. During the Mexican Rancho Era, it served as a boundary marker separating Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana, Rancho San Joaquin and Rancho Lomas de Santiago!

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

  • Become a member of the Tustin Area Historical Society!
  • Become a member of the California DAR, Katuktu Chapter!
  • 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:
Church of the Covenant Elementary School
11911 Red Hill Road
Santa Ana, CA 92705

ANNOTATIONS:
The plaque is on the east side of the school by the main entrance!

From Los Angeles: ~38mi (62km) — 0.7hrs
From Sacramento: ~421mi (678km) — 7.1hrs
From San Diego: ~88mi (142km) — 1.5hrs
From San Francisco: ~418mi (673km) — 7hrs

When should I go? Whenever the mood strikes you!

Click here to see more California historical landmarks!

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