EISPIRATEN

John W. Robinson was a legendary historian of the Great Hiking Era of the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains. He's written many books that you can find in Libraries, Historical Societies, and even our very own forum member's home bookshelves. The man has inspired many of us to explore the vast canyons and trails of the Angeles and to carry on his legacy of documentation and education of our lands. He documented the mining history of the San Gabriel River and notably to me, the foothills of Altadena with great detail and excellence. Many of his books are used as references for modern day historians and publications but little did any of YOU know, his notes, photographs, and collection of ephemera, maps, and correspondance (I can't spell for shit) is all available at USC!

The following post is going to contain a bunch of photos of stuff that hasn't really been documented like this before but I think this forum deserves the treasure.
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* It was super confusing and weird to find this random image but here we are. *
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Citation: Box 74/Eaton Canyon, Los Angeles Corral of the Westerners records, Collection no. 0117, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

This is cool stuff. Yosemite of Southern California might be a little overstated. I'd like to get one of those Edison Diamond Disc phonographs.

The Grand Canyon of socal is here as well: viewtopic.php?p=63159. Seems legit.

Thanks for sharing. Does anyone know what happened to the Idle Hour structures? Fire? Flood?

Also there is that "T" placed above Henninger flat. I have seen it in many historical photos. What did the "T" stand for? It appears to have been maintained for a few decades.

That first map is confusing. I THINK it's just drawn very sloppily. What's going on with the bottom of Rubio Canyon? Where's the incline railway and the PE rail connecting to it supposed to be?

Twin Falls alpine stream is pathetic for Caltech canyon..even for a marketing brochure. But you see this a lot with Idlehour.
Somehow all the development worked out.

dima wrote: Sat Nov 15, 2025 11:55 pm That first map is confusing. I THINK it's just drawn very sloppily. What's going on with the bottom of Rubio Canyon? Where's the incline railway and the PE rail connecting to it supposed to be?

It's an Idle Hour brochure, not a Lowe Railway brochure, so good luck using their map to find a rival attraction.

JakubRZ wrote: Sat Nov 15, 2025 10:34 pm Thanks for sharing. Does anyone know what happened to the Idle Hour structures? Fire? Flood?

Usually both. Almost all San Gabriels camps still remaining by 1938 were washed away by the floods of that year. Sturdevant was the last man standing.