Ohlone at Lake Temescal

The first known inhabitants of the area were the Huichin and Saclan Ohlone — Native Americans who lived here for thousands of years before European colonization. The name "Temescal" comes from an Aztec word for "sweat lodge." The sweat lodges were constructed differently than Ohlone houses. Although they are of the similar dome shape, the sweat lodge is "twice as large as the others and is dug into the Earth." The purpose for the sweat lodge is to be in touch with spirituality and nature. Men came here before hunting, they sang, clapped and sweated. Sweat lodges cleaned them both physically and spiritually before dancing, gambling, deer hunting, and other important activities. Men usually visited the sweat lodge once a day.