Native American History Which tribes inhabited the Lagunas?
The Kumeyaay Tribe (including the Kwaaymii American Indians) resided in the Lagunas. Tom Lucas, one of the last remaining original tribe members, died in 1989. His biography is featured in the Visitor Information Center. See our links section for more information on Native American history. One of the visual artifacts left by the Kumeyaays are morteros, or shallow indentations in boulders, used for grinding food. There is a good example of this on the self-guided Desert View Picnic Area (get naturalist pamplet at the VIC), and several morteros along large outcroppings along Pine Creek Road several miles West of Sunrise Highway.
