In 1848, a detour branched off the ancient Mojave Trail, which parallels Choiceana Avenue, and went west to Cajon's old summit. In 1870, road maker John Brown enlarged this detour, which over time became a major thoroughfare. Padre Garces, Jed Smith, Kit Carson, and the Mormon Battalion, with the first known vehicle to have crossed the desert, passed this location. Susan Davis, wife of Battalion Officer Daniel Davis, was part of this group and was the first woman to have crossed on this trail.