Southern California: The Sunny Paradise

California has been heralded as the Golden State for decades and there are reasons why it is the most populous state in the nation -- great weather, amazing sites (both natural and man-made), and, of course, the big, bright, California sun. But how did the state become so popular? Why have so many people wanted to come to this area for so long, especially over the past 170+ years?

The land that makes up California has a long and complicated history. Many indigenous peoples have populated this region and called it home for thousands of years! While it was claimed by the Spanish, became a part of Mexico, and, in 1848, it was ceded by Mexico to the United States, many indigenous descendants believe this to be unceded land. The history and culture of California have been significantly shaped by these different groups, and the state is one of the most diverse and vibrant in the nation because of its unique past.

As the Mexican-American War came to a close in 1848 and California became American territory, gold was found, which forever changed the state's demographics and its economics. Thousands of prospectors and miners flooded the state and this group of people was highly diverse, including U.S. citizens and immigrants of various backgrounds. The population skyrocketed by the time California became a state in 1850 and people continued to migrate and immigrate into the state. Many came in hopes of finding gold, but some also wanted to start a new life in California and take advantage of some of its many benefits, like its good weather and soil.

Southern California became increasing popular, even during the state's early years. Beginning in the late 1800s, railroad companies, real estate developers, and civic boosters advertised Southern California’s climate to attract people and business from across the country. This type of marketing continued well into the 20th century and even today we see advertisements for Southern California that boast the sun, wonderful weather, and all the outdoor activities people can partake in while they are living or visiting here.

The West Coast was marketed as a place for sun, rest, relaxation, and healing, and people from all over the nation came to bask in the California sun. The idea that sunshine was a cure for illnesses not only increased the number of people moving into the state, but it also influenced Southern California architecture as large windows, glassed-in porches, screened sun rooms, and airy parlors became iconic components of residences and buildings. By the mid-1900s, California was portrayed as a sunny paradise in almost all aspects of American culture. Songs, radio station ads, TV commercials, billboard signs, and marketing paraphernalia showed off the Golden Coast and promoted the California sun.

Brochures, especially around the mid-1900s, marketed the many places someone could visit on a trip to sunny Southern California. Visitors could also send postcards home showing their loved ones the amazing places they had been or the beautiful sunsets they saw while in the Golden State. Southern California became such a popular destination by the late 1800s that it even had a publication that featured the region’s natural wonders and stunning climate. The Land of Sunshine was a magazine published in Los Angeles and, with its extravagant illustrations and devoted promotion of California, it had a significant influence on Southern California’s early tourism.

Additionally, San Bernardino County’s unique blend of deserts, mountains, and lake retreats has made it a popular, year-round vacation destination for over a century. As the objects below show, marketing the radiant California sunshine has helped make Southern California and San Bernardino County desirable locations for people from all over to visit!  

Sanitariums were healing facilities that became extremely popular in the late 1800s and continued spreading throughout Southern California well into the 1900s. People suffering from illnesses such as tuberculosis, rheumatism, asthma, and pneumonia looked desperately for cures for these then untreatable diseases. Believing sunshine, temperate climate, dry air, and healthy food would heal those suffering in mind and body, they found hope in sanitariums that promoted their locations in sunny California as the cure to these ailments.

While sanitariums did provide rest and relaxation for those who flocked to them, that is often all they provided. Most were not full-fledged medical facilities or hospitals. The popularity of sanitariums started to decline in the mid-1900s with the discovery of an antibiotic that cured tuberculosis. Many sanitariums were later transformed into general hospitals, mental health facilities, or other variations of a health resort. Although they are not in existence today, sanitariums solidified California’s reputation as a retreat for the mind, body, and soul. Sanitarium-like resorts are still scattered throughout the state promoting claims of healing and rejuvenation.

Loma Linda is a local city that began as a health resort. In the late 1890s, a group of businessmen and physicians opened a health resort in the area and called it Loma Linda, meaning “pretty hill” in Spanish. In 1905, the Seventh-day Adventist Church purchased the resort property and opened Loma Linda Sanitarium. Later, a school of medicine opened on the location, and, eventually, the sanitarium became Loma Linda Hospital.

The natural hot springs in Arrowhead Springs have been well used for centuries and seen by many as having health benefits. In 1864, Dr. David Noble Smith founded a sanitarium at Arrowhead Springs and used the natural hot mineral water to treat people with consumption, dropsy, and other deadly diseases. By 1868, this small treatment house had developed into a hotel that, over the next several decades, had a succession of fires, rebuilds, and new owners. The Arrowhead Springs Hotel later became a luxury resort in the 1930s and welcomed celebrities. In 2016, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians purchased the property.