January 1771

Local tribes encounter Father Garces

January 1811

Some Serrano depart the Oasis at Mara for the San Gabriel Mission

Jan 1820

Was Giant Rock an Oasis?

Relics have established that people lived in the Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree National Park areas 4,000 to 8,000 years ago. Witnessing the water accumulation in 2017, one wonders if the site may have been a stopping point for traverses to Big Bear or Tehachapi for resident tribes due to availability of water from collected rainfall and via nearby Surprise Springs. Given the physical size, could Giant Rock have been a significantly useful shelter or regarded a as sacred site? Research to answer these questions is ongoing.

May 1862

Homestead Act brings settlers to Morongo Basin

Named the "Great Stone' by Indians of the high desert, the site sixteen miles north of highway 62 began to be known as "Giant Rock" by white settlers new to the region.

June 1870

Charles Lewis Reche is Born

Charles was born on the Pala Indian Reservation in San Diego County where his father Anthony was the first non-Indian settler and started the first store.

Mar 1881 - Mar 1882

Willie Boy is Born

A Paiute-Chemehuevi native is born near Pahrump, NV and will lead a mysterious love story in the Morongo Basin.

July 1886

Frank M. Critzer is Born

Frank M. Critzer is listed on the 1900 census for Illinois Township, Sumner County, Kansas as the 14 year old son of James and Etta who relocated to Kansas sometime in 1887 from Virginia.

November 1887

Charley Lewis Reche visits Warren's Ranch in Morongo Valley

Reche age 17 meets Nellie (Francis Eleanor Warren), daughter to Chuck (Mark's) and Sylvia Paine, who would become his wife on January 13, 1896.

January 1895

Charley and Nellie Reche arrive in Homestead Valley

Nellie and Charley lay claim to a homestead 16 miles north of Warren's Well in what will later be known as Landers.

Mar 1909 - Mar 1910

Clara True and Maude Russell visit 29 Palms

Working for the US Indian Service Bureau's Banning office, Clara and Maude made two trips to the Oasis of Mara in 1909 and 1910.

Sep 1909 - Oct 1909

Willie Boy - The West's Last Famous Manhunt

While working as a foreman of the Desert Queen Mine in JTNP, Charley Reche joined the posse hunting down Willie Boy.

March 1910

George Van Tassel is Born

In Jefferson, Ohio.

Jan 1914 - Jan 1949

Mining Goat Mountain

Reche moved his family to Rich's Well and built a rock house at what is now the Integratron site. He work a mining operation at Goat Mountain from 1914 to 1932.

October 1929

Frank Critzer's Essex Car Repair

George Van Tassel leaves Ohio for California where his uncle, Glenn Paine owned an auto garage at 2nd Street and Broadway in Santa Monica, CA.

May 1931 - May 1947

Van Tassel's Aircraft Career

During Critzer's time at Giant Rock, George established a career building on three years of work at Cleveland Municipal Airport.

Oct 1931 - Oct 1942

Critzer in the Desert - His Roof is a Rock

Frank Critzer camped in the shadow of Giant Rock and eventually dug out a 24 x 36 foot living space underneath.

September 1941

Giant Rock Airport

The 1941 LA Sectional Map is the first to designate Critzer's effort as Giant Rock Airport.

July 1942

Explosion at Giant Rock

Three deputies from Riverside County visit to investigate the large airport antenna and war-fueled suspicions about Giant Rock resident, Frank Critzer.

Sep 1945 - Sep 1947

George Van Tassel applies to acquire Giant Rock

After Frank Critzer's death, Van Tassel and his wife and three daughters would camp out at Giant Rock as they loved the place.

Jan 1947 - Dec 1975

Van Tassel operates Giant Rock Airport

George built a cafe, the Come On Inn in the ruins of Critzer's underground quarters. His daughters attended 29 Palms High School. Cars and campers joined the aircraft and visitors would enjoy the remote, quiet desert and rock hunt in the nearby hills where garnets, copper sulfate, agate and jasper could be found on the surface. Astronauts training for a manned lunar landing were said to have practiced here among the rock piles and black volcanic deposits rather than the nearby Marine base. Eventually, the site became a favorite for UFO observations. Van Tassel began hosting the Flying Saucer Convention to crowds of 6,000 to 15,000 guests as well as authors, experts and abductees from all over the world.

October 1951

1947 Crosley Atop Giant Rock

The "Picture of the Week" in Life magazine features the feat of winching an auto atop the boulder. Rumor has it Van Tassel took a rare break to see a motion picture and friends surprised him with their installation. The engine had been removed.

January 1952

I Rode a Flying Saucer

George Van Tassel's first book, curiously written before the seminal trip with aliens from Venus who delivered the ideas for the creation of the Integratron.

August 1953

Weekly Meditation Meetings Begin

In the restructed room underneath Giant Rock, Van Tassel began to host weekly gatherings.

October 1953

First Issue of "Proceedings" Published

Proceedings was the monthly newsletter eventually published by the College of Universal Wisdom, a branch of the Ministry of Universal Wisdom over which Van Tassel presides.

April 1954

First UFO Convention at Giant Rock

Giant Rock Interplanetary Spacecraft Convention.

August 1954

Construction Begins

The 16-sided two story wooden dome structure breaks ground.

January 1956

Into This World and Out Again

A modern proof of the origin of humanity and its retrogression from the Original Creation of Man. Verified by the Holy Bible ... received through thought communication By George Van Tassel

May 1957

Flying Saucer Convention, 1957

Life Magazine publishes story - "Believers hold meeting in desert to swap interplanetary tales" on the Giant Rock UFO Conventions with photos by Ralph Crane.

June 1957

AUDIO - The Flying Saucer Phenomenon

Recording of interview of George Van Tassel by Long John Nebel for The Partyline.

January 1958

The Council of the Seven Lights

By George Van Tassel

January 1958

College of Universal Wisdom Established

A science and philosphy organization formed for the purpose of research into the unseen truths of life. Proceedings was the quarterly publication.

November 1959

Under the Moon Construction

"The building, when complete will be four stories high, 45 feet in diameter, and is being constructed without nails, screws or metal support."

August 1960

Electricity

The Van Tassel's homestead finally is electrified.

June 1964

KVOS Interview with George Van Tassel

The Extraordinary Equation of George Van Tassel by KVOS Webster Reports

March 1967

Mr. Van Tassel and the Time Machine

Desert Magazine publishes article by June Pearson.

March 1972

Crash Leads to Arrests

Piper Aztec down at Giant Rock Airport

December 1975

Phyllis and John Brady take over Giant Rock Airport

Van Tassel sold Giant Rock Airport to the Bradys who in turn gave it to Jose Roderiguez and his family in 1977.

January 1976

When Stars Look Down

By George Van Tassel

February 1978

George Van Tassel Dies

While in Pasadena, CA preparing for a television interview, a healthy Van Tassel expires in his hotel room to the surprise of everyone. Other reports say Santa Ana.

October 1983

Sacred Land - An Attempt at Establishing a Reservation

"I just went in and did it (petitioned for the reservation) for the tribe. That (Giant Rock) is our sacred land," said Velasques. "I'm just excercising my rights to protect what is sacred."

October 1988

Emile Canning Buys Van Tassel's Integratron

Emile Canning and his company EJC productions offer tours and workshops at the Integratron starting in 1990 covering meditation, UFOs, spiritual growth and women's issues.

May 1994

Integratron Up for Sale Again

Emile Canning lists the 10-acre property for sale at $165,000

January 2000

Last known image of Giant Rock WHOLE

A photograph taken by Jeff Alu dated 2000 shows the boulder complete.

February 2000

Giant Rock Splits

The Great Stone breaks into two pieces fulfilling ancient Native American prophecy. Articles in the Hi-Desert Star newspaper make some guesses as to why the boulder broke.

April 2000

Current Owners the Karls Purchase the Integratron

Early on the Karl sisters began offering Sound Baths inside the upper level of the dome by appointment only by advance registration online. Over the years they have increased the other amenities at the site and one may enjoy the grounds, stop by the gift shop, or have a picnic.

January 2004

Another Mystery - An Artist's Statement

The Hi-Desert Star reported an unidentified woman painted the exposed surfaces of Giant Rock red.

May 2005

E. Clampus Vitus honors The Integratron

Along with the Morongo Basin Historical Society, the ancient and honorable fraternal Order of E. Clampus Vitus - Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069 install a plaque at the Integratron.

Oct 2013

HDTS: Googly Eyes for Giant Rock

For High Desert Test Sites artist Bettina Hubby created a temporary art installation.

April 2014

Cabinet Magazine -Mass Effect - Article

In the shadow of Giant Rock, Sasha Archibald's excellent article is published in Cabinet Magazine's issue #53 - Stones.

June 2014

MessyNessyChic.com Article

... features images from LIFE magazine on the heyday of Giant Rock UFO Conventions.