This chart shows the rise of 24 ghost towns across the Mojave Desert, mapping the years they were founded to the time they reached their peak. Each line marks the lifespan of a boom, whether driven by silver, gold, borax, or the railroads. Some towns flared up fast and vanished just as quickly, while others lingered for decades before fading into silence. This visual timeline provides a concise overview of how these desert outposts fit into the broader narrative of Western expansion and the mining fever that accompanied it.
