Human History
Trails End Ranch, a 52-acre property in the Claremont foothills, was purchased by Pomona College in 2012 with the goal of establishing a biological field station to be used by students and faculty alike. The ranch has a long and storied history, both natural and human, that make it a unique setting for academic research. Originally built as a country home and hunting lodge in 1918 by John Barnes Miller, the founder of Southern California Edison Company, Trails End has changed hands a number of times. In October 1949, the property, which had been owned by the Miller family until that time, was sold to Thomas Kirk Hill and his wife, Margaret. The Hills added a tennis court and pool. Trails End was sold again to Tom and Laura Miller (unrelated to the original family) in September 1998. The Millers added a number of improvements to the property, including a photovoltaic system that powers the ranch's three homes, a large metal storage barn, and two, 10,000-gallon water tanks. Though much of the area surrounding the house has been developed and cultivated, the majority of the natural vegetation remains, a rarity in southern California, providing an invaluable resource for Pomona's students and faculty to conduct a number of important research projects for the years to come. |
For an interactive, virtual tour of the key human-influenced aspects of the property, click here.