History of San Bernardino San Bernardino's colorful history
begins in the early years of the 19th century. Spanish
missionaries were the first settlers to the region. They chose
the fertile valley at the foot of a majestic mountain range as
an outpost for other missionaries who traveled throughout the
California territory preaching to the various Indian tribes.
Tradition has it that Father Francisco Dumetz made his last trip
from Mission San Gabriel to the San Bernardino Valley and on May
20, 1810 set up an altar in a planned effort to convert the
Indians living there. Padre Dumetz named the area "San
Bernardino" after Saint Bernardino of Siena, the patron saint of
the day on the Catholic Calendar.  In 1819, Mission San Gabriel
established Rancho San Bernardino in the area. The main concern
of the missionaries was the spiritual welfare of the Indians,
but they also took a part in their material well being, showing
their peaceful friends how to bring water down from Mill creek
and the best ways to plant and i