Friday, April 20, 2012

Who Named Big Bear, and Why?

Happy Friday, Angelenos and Southern California enthusiasts!  Your random So-Cal facts for the day....

Do you know how Big Bear lake got its name?

Originally named Bear Lake, it received its name because of the abundance of bears present during an 1885 expedition to ward off Indians that were coming into the area, ravaging and plundering what they could.

The Lake was named by none other than Benjamin "Benito," B.D. Wilson, for whom the towering (litterally, with communications equipment) mountaintop of the San Gabriels is named.  Wilson was twice almost killed by bears.

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