History of Banning, Directions &
Daily Schedule:
A. C. Dysart Park
 2108 W. Victory Ave., Banning, CA 92220

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History of Banning

The City of Banning is named after Phineas Banning who was born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1830.  He arrived in Los Angeles in 1851 and established a freighting business, soon expanding to Salt Lake City.

He cut a private road from LA to Ft. Tejon when the latter was established and gained the contract to supply the fort.  He also petitioned the federal government to certify San Pedro as an international port of trade.  Nearby he had purchased 640 acres of mud and established the new town of Wilmington, named after his birthplace.

He became involved in stagecoach lines, including the one that ran through the town of Banning which, it is said, was named after he donated money for a church

In 1860 he completed the telegraph line between Los Angeles and San Francisco and ended the former's status as an isolated outpost.

Being an ardent Unionist and abolitionist, he donated the land for the Drum Barracks in Wilmington thereby securing the construction contract for the very buildings he would buy back for a pittance after the war.  For his ardent Union support and massive supply efforts he was made a general in the California Volunteers.

General Banning died in 1885 in a streetcar accident in San Francisco.

Directions

From Riverside -  Take the 91 or 60 freeway to the 10 freeway and go east towards Banning/Palm Springs.  In Banning, exit at the 22nd Street off ramp and turn right (south) and continue to A.C. Dysart Park where the road ends.

From San Diego - Take 215 north towards Riverside.  Exit at the 60 freeway towards Beaumont.  Take the 60 east to the 10 freeway.  Go east on 10 toward Banning/Palm Springs.  In Banning, exit at the 22nd Street off ramp and turn right (south) and continue to A.C. Dysart Park where the road ends.

From Los Angeles -  Take the 10 freeway east towards Banning/Palm Springs.  In Banning, exit at the 22nd Street off ramp and turn right (south) and continue to the A.C. Dysart Park where the road ends.

From Orange County - Take the 91 east towards Riverside.  You can take either the 60 or the 91 to the 10 freeway and go east towards Banning/Palm Springs.  In Banning, exit at the 22nd Street off ramp and turn right (south) and continue to A.C. Dysart Park where the road ends.

A. C. Dysart Park is in the Banning Pass. Dysart Park is located at the south end of 22nd Street in Banning off the 10 freeway approximately 1 mile south of the freeway. It is at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains and surrounded on three sides by rolling grassy hills and meadows.

There will be food available to buy on both Saturday and Sunday.  There will be a dance on Saturday night, which will be called by Tom Atkins.

The ground is very hard so bring good stakes. You are allowed to have in-the-ground fires but you will need to remove the grass in such a way that it can be replaced on Sunday before you leave. Also be sure to bring tools for digging into the hard ground.

Water is readily available. There are also flush toilets on site and cold showers for those who would like to use them. Port-a-potties will also be set up near the camps.

You will need to bring your own wood. Cavalry will need to bring their own feed and you will receive your bounty. Infantry, remember, that any 8-member stand-alone unit will receive a powder reimbursement per soldier. Be sure to have your unit roster attendance sheet turned into your Brigade Commander to receive your reimbursements.

 Banning Schedule