Mojave Desert – Page 4

Ghost Towns & Gold Mines

Ghost Towns, Sites, and Gold and Silver Mines in the Mojave Desert

The Mojave Desert is known for its rich history of mining and the presence of ghost towns and abandoned mines. Here are some notable ghost towns, sites, and gold and silver mines in the Mojave Desert:

Calico Ghost Town: Located near Barstow, California, Calico is one of the most famous ghost towns in the Mojave Desert. It was a thriving silver mining town in the late 1800s but became abandoned when the silver market declined. Today, it’s a well-preserved tourist attraction.
Rhyolite, Nevada: Rhyolite was once a booming gold mining town in the early 1900s. It had over 5,000 people but was quickly abandoned when the mines played out. You can visit the remains of the town and see the famous “Bottle House” made of glass bottles.
Goldfield, Nevada: Goldfield was another prosperous gold mining town in Nevada. It had a peak population of around 20,000 people in the early 1900s. The Goldfield Hotel and several historic buildings still stand today.
Panamint City, California: This remote ghost town in Death Valley National Park was a silver mining town in the late 1800s. It’s accessible via a challenging hike and offers stunning views of the surrounding desert.
Cerro Gordo, California: Cerro Gordo is an old silver mining town still privately owned. It’s located in the Inyo Mountains and has a well-preserved ghost town, including a general store, bunkhouse, and other structures.
Mines in the Mojave Desert: The Mojave Desert is home to numerous gold and silver mines, many of which are abandoned. These mines contributed to the region’s mining history. Some notable mines include the Tonopah-Belmont Mine, the Desert Queen Mine, and the Goldstone Mine.

Remember that exploring abandoned mines can be dangerous due to unstable structures and the presence of toxic gases. It’s essential to exercise caution and, if needed, seek permission or guidance from local authorities or landowners when visiting these sites. Additionally, some ghost towns and mines may be on private property, so be respectful of any access restrictions.

Mojave Desert Human (Historical) Geography

Mojave Desert Geography

A long interaction history between people and the challenging desert environment marks the human (historical) geography of the Mojave Desert. Here are key aspects of the human history and settlement patterns in the Mojave Desert:

Indigenous Peoples:
- Before European contact, various indigenous groups inhabited the Mojave Desert, including the Mojave, Chemehuevi, and Serrano peoples.
- These groups adapted to the arid environment, relying on hunting, gathering, and seasonal migrations to exploit available resources.
Spanish Exploration and Missionaries:
- Spanish explorers and missionaries, including Francisco Garces and Juan Bautista de Anza, ventured into the Mojave Desert in the 18th century.
- These explorers sought routes to link Spanish missions in California and establish trade connections.
Old Spanish Trail:
- The Old Spanish Trail, a trade route connecting Santa Fe, New Mexico, to California, passed through the Mojave Desert in the early 19th century.
- This trail facilitated the exchange of goods and cultural interactions between Spanish settlers and indigenous groups.
American Pioneers and Westward Expansion:
- During the 19th century, American pioneers and settlers ventured into the Mojave Desert as part of westward expansion.
- The discovery of gold and other minerals in the region, such as the Calico Mountains, led to mining booms and the establishment of mining towns.
19th Century Military:
Railroads and Transportation:
- The construction of railroads, such as the Southern Pacific Railroad, was crucial in connecting the Mojave Desert to the broader transportation network.
- Railroad towns, including Barstow, developed as important transportation hubs.
Mining and Boomtowns:
- Mining activities, particularly for silver and borax, flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Boomtowns like Calico, once a significant silver mining town, experienced periods of rapid growth and decline.
Military Presence:
- The Mojave Desert has been home to various military installations, including Edwards Air Force Base and the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.
- These installations have played roles in aviation testing, research, and training.
Route 66:
- The historic Route 66, a major U.S. highway, passed through the Mojave Desert during the mid-20th century, bringing increased traffic, commerce, and tourism to the region.
National Parks and Conservation Efforts:
- Establishing national parks and preserves, such as Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve, reflects efforts to conserve the desert’s unique ecosystems and landscapes.
Modern Urbanization and Recreation:
- Urban areas on the periphery of the Mojave Desert, such as Las Vegas, have experienced rapid growth.
- The desert attracts tourists and outdoor enthusiasts interested in hiking, rock climbing, and stargazing.

Understanding the human history of the Mojave Desert involves recognizing the diverse ways different groups have interacted with the desert environment over time, from indigenous peoples adapting to the harsh conditions to the various waves of exploration, settlement, and economic activities that have shaped the region.

Barstow Index

Barstow California Area

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Barstow Area. Barstow lies in the intersection of the three largest ecosubsections in the Mojave Desert; High Desert Plains & Hills (322Ag), Mojave Valley – …

Barstow, California

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Barstow 1890. Barstow is situated at the junction of the California Southern and the A. &. P. Railway, eighty-two miles from San Bernardino and twelve miles …

Kramer Junction (Four Corners) Mojave High Desert

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3) Go west on the State Route 58 through Boron, Mojave or California City and up to Tehachapi and over the Southern Sierra. 4) Go east to Barstow. There is food …

Vanyume Indians

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Mojave Desert Indians – Map. Vanyume Indians. The Vanyume or Beñemé, as Father Garces called them, lived beyond and along much of the length of the Mojave …

Casa del Desierto

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Casa del Desierto – Harvey House. Barstow Harvey House and train station photo – Casa del Desierto Casa del Desierto: The Spanish for “House of the Desert” In …

Barstow, California – Notes

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Nov 4, 2023 … Today, it remains an essential point of access and commerce for those traveling through the Mojave Desert in Southern California. Post Views: 12.

Goldstone, Barstow California, Mojave Desert

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Goldstone Ghost Town. More of a site than a ghost town, there are only a few scattered foundations and some rubble to be found. The area is now home to NASA’s …

History of Barstow the National Old Trails Road and Route 66

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The Barstow yards are used jointly by the Santa Fe and Union Pacific and handily very considerable volume of the transcontinental traffic. Hence the railroad …

Barstow, Ca Historic Photos

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Burton Frasher photos of Barstow, California.

Paleontology

PALEONTOLOGY – Mojave Desert – Glossary of Terms and Definitions

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The study of fossils and their relation to geologic time. … Paleontology Miocene fossils have been found in the cliffs of Red Rock Canyon. Scientists continue …

Mojave Desert Paleontology

The study of fossils and their relation to geologic time.

Paleontology in Red Rock Canyon

Wrightwood, Ca. Mountain Hardware Wrightwood, Ca. Canyon Cartography · DesertLink. Links to Desert Museums, Grizzly Cafe Family Dining …

Geology of the Mojave River

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The river flows below the surface for much of its length and only intermittently at the surface. The Mojave River, an arid desert lifeline, supplies water and …

Fossils, Rocks, and Time: Fossils and Rocks

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Geology : Paleontology. FOSSILS AND ROCKS. To tell the age of most layered rocks, scientists study the fossils these rocks contain. Fossils provide important …

Red Rock Canyon California State Park

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Red Rock Canyon State Park, Mojave California, Mojave Desert.

Fossils, Rocks, and Time: The Relative Time Scale

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Geology : Paleontology. THE RELATIVE TIME SCALE. Long before geologists had the means to recognize and express time in numbers of years before the present …

Fossils, Rocks, and Time: The Numeric Time Scale

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Geologic time scale showing both relative and numeric ages. Ages in millions of years are approximate. Nineteenth-century geologists and paleontologists …

Fossils, Rocks, and Time: Fossil Succession

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Geology : Paleontology. FOSSIL SUCCESSION. Three concepts are important in the study and use of fossils: (1) Fossils represent the remains of once-living …

Fossils, Rocks, and Time: Putting Events in Order

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Geology : Paleontology. PUTTING EVENTS IN ORDER. Scientists who study the past try to put events in their proper order. When we discuss events that happened …

Fossils, Rocks, and Time: Table of Contents

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Geology : Paleontology. FOSSILS, ROCKS, AND TIME. INTRODUCTION. We study our Earth for many reasons: to find water to drink or oil to run our cars or coal …

FOSSIL – Mojave Desert – Glossary of Terms and Definitions

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The Fossil Canyon Loop Road is an interesting route for vehicle touring. … Mojave Desert Paleontology The study of fossils and their relation to geologic …

Fossils, Rocks, and Time: Rocks and Layers

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Geology : Paleontology. ROCKS AND LAYERS. We study Earth’s history by studying the record of past events that is preserved in the rocks. The layers of the …

Mojave Desert – Scavenger

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Paleontologists are … Raven – Desert Wildlife. Raven – Raven Also see > Bird: Omnivore : Scavenger: Predator: Diurnal Mammals – Predators Mountain Lion · …

Mojave Desert Geology

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Paleontology. The scientific study of prehistoric plants and animals in their geologic context. Alluvial material in dry wash. Dry Lake – Playa Desert Varnish …

Red Rock Canyon – Mojave California

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Located in the southern El Paso Mountains, these colorful cliffs with their stark beauty and unique features have attracted hikers, geologists, paleontologists, …

Cajon Pass Geology

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Pliocene and Pleistocene evolution of the Mojave River, and associated tectonic development of the Transverse Ranges and Mojave Desert, based on borehole …

Dr. Joan S. Schneider

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Mojave Desert History > Names in History. Dr. Joan S. Schneider. Photo of Dr Joan Schneider at Joshua Tree National Park Joan S. Schneider, Ph.D.

ANTIQUITIES – Mojave Desert – Glossary of Terms and Definitions

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ANTIQUITIES – A general term for archaeological or paleontological resources which are at least 100 years of age and which tangibly represent or have the …

Lake Mead

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Three of America’s four desert ecosystems–the Mojave, the Great Basin, and the Sonoran Deserts–meet in Lake Mead NRA. As a result, this seemingly barren area …

References – Mojave Preserve – California Mojave Desert

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Hewitt, D.F., 1956, Geology and mineral resources of the Ivanpah quadrangle, California and Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 275, 172 p.

The Grand Canyon

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Grand Canyon National Park, a World Heritage Site, encompasses 1,218,375 acres and lies on the Colorado Plateau in northwestern Arizona. The land is semi-arid …

RELATIVE DATING – Mojave Desert – Glossary of Terms and …

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RELATIVE DATING – A method of dating rock layers by their relationships or proximity to each other. Both archaeologists and paleontologists use relative dating.

Elizabeth Campbell

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Elizabeth Campbell. Photo of Elizabeth Campbell, Mojave Desert archeologist. NPS photo – colorized. Elizabeth Warder Crozer was born in August of 1893 into a …

Grand Canyon natural environments

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Near the Colorado River, riparian vegetation and sandy beaches prevail. Just above the river corridor a desert scrub community exists complete with a wide …

Kokoweef Caves

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Kokoweef and the mysterious river of gold in the Mojave Desert.

Cajon Pass Heritage

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Heritage resources in the Cajon Pass region of the Mojave Desert.

Mojave Desert – Glossary of Terms and Definitions

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Mojave Desert Glossary. The following definitions may be helpful. In most instances, they may not be specific to, or, all-inclusive of, the Mojave Desert.

Kokoweef

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If there were what may be trillions of dollars in gold lying at the bottom of an ‘unrediscovered’ river running from the Great Basin under the Mojave Desert to …

Rainbow Basin

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Land ownership status can be found on the “Cuddeback Lake” Desert Access Guide. These BLM maps can be purchased from any California Desert District BLM …

Saline Valley Salt Tram

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The Saline Valley Salt Tram, also known as the Saline Valley Tramway, is a historic tramway system used to transport salt from the Saline Valley in California, USA. The Saline Valley is located within the Death Valley National Park.

The tramway was constructed in the early 20th century to facilitate the transportation of salt from the salt flats in the Saline Valley to the Owens Valley. The system consisted of cables and tramcars that carried salt over the Inyo Mountains. The salt was then transported to market via the Owens Valley.

The operation of the Saline Valley Salt Tram ceased in the mid-20th century, and the tramway itself has since fallen into disuse and disrepair. The remnants of the tramway, including some of the infrastructure and cables, can still be found in the Saline Valley. The area attracts historians, hikers, and those interested in exploring the remnants of historical infrastructure.

Ghost Towns & Sites in the Mojave Desert

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The Mojave Desert in the southwestern United States is home to several ghost towns and abandoned sites that reflect the region’s history of mining, ranching, and other activities.

Here are some notable examples:

Calico Ghost Town:
- Located near Barstow, California, Calico is one of the most famous ghost towns in the Mojave Desert. It was a silver mining town in the 1880s and 1890s. Today, Calico is a county park and tourist attraction with preserved buildings and mining equipment.
Rhyolite:
- Near Death Valley in Nevada, Rhyolite was a bustling gold mining town in the early 20th century. It had a population of several thousand people at its peak. The town had schools, banks, and even an opera house. However, it declined rapidly, and now visitors can explore the ruins of its former glory.
Ballarat:
- In California near the Panamint Mountains, Ballarat was a supply town for the nearby mines in the early 20th century. It is known for its association with the infamous outlaw Charles Manson, who briefly stayed in the area.
Bodie:
- Although technically not in the Mojave Desert (in the Eastern Sierra region), Bodie is worth mentioning. This well-preserved ghost town was a gold mining boomtown in the late 19th century. It’s now a state park; visitors can explore the abandoned buildings and artifacts.
Panamint City:
- Nestled in the Panamint Range of California, Panamint City was a silver mining town that thrived in the late 19th century. The town’s remote location contributed to its decline and was abandoned by the early 20th century. The site is accessible by hiking, and some structures remain.
Cima:
- Cima is a small ghost town in the Mojave National Preserve in California. It was a mining and railroad town in the early 20th century. While most of the buildings are gone, the area still has some remnants of its past.
Ivanpah:
- Ivanpah, located in California, was a mining town that saw activity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, only a few structures remain, including stamp mill ruins.

Building in Cima ghost town in Mojave Preserve — Cima Ghost Town

Exploring these ghost towns and abandoned sites provides a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Mojave Desert and the people who once inhabited these remote areas. Keep in mind that some of these sites may be on private land or protected areas, so it’s essential to respect any restrictions and regulations in place.

Peggy Sue’s 50s Diner

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Peggy Sue's Diner, Yermo, Route 66, nostalgia, 1950s

Peggy Sue’s 50s Diner is a well-known retro-themed diner in Yermo, California. It’s designed to resemble a classic 1950s diner, with vintage decor, neon lights, and a nostalgic atmosphere.

The diner typically offers classic American diner fare, such as burgers, shakes, fries, and other comfort food items. Additionally, Peggy Sue’s may have themed events or activities to enhance the 1950s experience for visitors.

Mormon Battalion

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The Mormon Battalion was a United States Army volunteer unit composed primarily of Latter-day Saint (Mormon) men. It was formed during the Mexican-American War in 1846. The battalion played a significant role in the western expansion of the United States and the development of the American West.

Here are some key points about the Mormon Battalion:

Formation: The Mormon Battalion was officially organized on July 16, 1846, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Mormon pioneers, led by Brigham Young, had been forced to leave their homes in Nauvoo, Illinois, and were headed west to the Salt Lake Valley.
Purpose: The battalion was created to support the U.S. war effort in the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). The U.S. government, in need of troops to secure the territory acquired in the Southwest, allowed the Mormons to form their unit.
Service: The Mormon Battalion marched over 2,000 miles from Council Bluffs to San Diego, California, through harsh and challenging conditions. They were mustered out of service in July 1847.
Contribution to Western Expansion: The journey of the Mormon Battalion played a role in opening up a southern wagon route to California and exploring potential routes for future transportation and communication lines.
Legacy: The legacy of the Mormon Battalion is still remembered today. Many battalion members settled in California after their service, and their contributions are commemorated in various historical sites and monuments. The battalion is also remembered as a unique episode in American military history and the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Mormon Battalion’s journey was a remarkable chapter in the American West’s history and the United States’s expansion during the 19th century.

Draft Oxen

Draft oxen are domesticated cattle trained to work as draft animals, primarily for agricultural purposes. They have been used for centuries in many parts of the world to pull plows, wagons, and other heavy loads. Oxen are typically castrated male cattle, and they are trained to respond to commands from their handlers.

NPS photo of oxen - ox tream — Oxen – NPS photo

Here are some key characteristics and advantages of using draft oxen:

Strength: Oxen are strong animals, capable of pulling heavy loads, plowing fields, and performing other tasks requiring significant physical strength. They are often used for tilling soil and other agricultural activities.
Endurance: Oxen are known for their endurance. They can work long hours, making them suitable for tasks requiring sustained effort, such as plowing large fields or pulling heavy loads over extended distances.
Steadiness and Reliability: Oxen is generally known for its steady and reliable work. They are patient animals and can handle repetitive tasks at a consistent pace.
Adaptability: Oxen are well-adapted to various climates and terrains. They can work in different conditions and are particularly useful in areas where mechanized equipment may not be practical or accessible.
Low Maintenance: Oxen are often considered low-maintenance animals compared to some other draft animals. They can graze on pasture, and their dietary requirements are relatively simple. They also have sturdy hooves, which reduces the need for frequent hoof care.
Draught Power: Oxen have been historically crucial for providing draught power in agriculture. They were widely used before the advent of mechanized farming equipment and are still used in some regions where traditional farming methods persist.
Manure Production: Aside from their work capabilities, oxen also produce manure, which can be used as crop fertilizer. This contributes to the sustainability of agricultural practices.

While draft oxen have been widely used historically, the prevalence of mechanized agriculture has led to a decline in their use in many developed countries. However, in certain regions and for specific purposes, draft oxen continue to be valued for their strength, reliability, and suitability for sustainable and traditional farming practices. Training and working with oxen require skill and patience, as they respond well to positive reinforcement and consistent handling.

Wild Burros

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Wild burros, also known as wild donkeys, can be found in various desert regions around the world. In North America, one notable population of wild burros resides in the deserts of the southwestern United States, particularly in states like Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. These burros are descendants of domesticated animals brought to the region by early European settlers and prospectors.

Here are some key points about wild burros in the desert:

Origins: Wild burros in the American Southwest are often descendants of animals brought by Spanish explorers and settlers in the 1500s. Over the centuries, these domesticated animals escaped or were released, adapting to the arid desert environment.
Adaptations: Wild burros have evolved to thrive in harsh desert conditions. They are well-adapted to arid environments, with efficient water retention capabilities and the ability to consume a variety of desert vegetation.
Habitat: Wild burros are typically found in semi-arid and arid regions, where water sources may be scarce. Deserts provide them with open spaces, rocky terrain, and sparse vegetation that suits their browsing and grazing habits.
Behavior: Wild burros are social animals and often form small herds led by a jack, a dominant male. They have a hierarchical social structure and communicate through vocalizations and body language.
Conservation Concerns: While wild burros have adapted well to desert life, their populations sometimes face challenges. Overgrazing, competition for limited water sources, and conflicts with human activities can impact their well-being. As a result, ongoing efforts are to manage and conserve wild burro populations in some areas.
Management and Control: In some regions, wild burro populations are managed to prevent overgrazing and habitat degradation. This may involve relocation, adoption programs, or fertility control measures to balance the burro population and the available resources.
Tourism and Observation: Wild burros in the desert can be a point of interest for tourists and nature enthusiasts. Observing these animals in their natural habitat can be a unique experience. Still, visitors need to respect their space and adhere to any regulations in place for their protection.

Understanding the ecology and behavior of wild burros is crucial for their conservation and coexistence with human activities in desert environments. Conservation efforts aim to balance preserving these iconic animals and maintaining the health of the ecosystems they inhabit.

Tag: Mojave Desert