All posts by Michael F Ballard

Michael F Ballard is the author and administrator of the Southern California Regional Rocks and Roads website, https://socalregion.com, since 1995. I have been studying the geology and highway history throughout southern California for most of my life. I am also the President of the Ridge Route Preservation Organization. Founder of the Historic Highway 99 Association of California, https://historic99.org .

Los Angeles Street Names

A reader informed me about a really interesting website on the origins of street names in the Los Angeles area. You can find it at – https://lastreetnames.com/ .

New Video – Piru Gorge and Pyramid Lake

Former US 99 followed a very scenic path over the mountains north of Los Angeles. Follow the Historic Highway 99 Association of California on a journey through the mountains, down the canyons, and beneath Pyramid Lake. Learn what was there before I-5 and what it took to build both roads.

Ridge Route Preservation Organization Needs Your Help!

The Ridge Route Preservation Organization needs your help! They have posted a video on their Clean Up The Ridge Route project and are looking for volunteers! Check out their website – https://ridgeroute.org and the video for more details.

Ridge Route February 2024 Update Video

In early and mid-February 2024, the Ridge Route Preservation Organization went on a field survey trip over the Ridge Route to assess damage. They took a lot of videos and put together an overview of what they saw.

Come join the Ridge Route Preservation Organization on their journey over the Ridge Route.

New History Video

The Historic Highway 99 Association of California is starting a new series on the history of US 99, historic sites along the way, and information about the Association. Join them on their YouTube Channel – @highway99 – to learn more. Their first video is on The Grapevine.

Historic Highway 99 Association of California YouTube Channel