Category: 1-Timeline

Combined timelines of Victorville, Hesperia & Apple Valley, CA.

---

Pre-1800s: Indigenous Presence and Trade

• The Serrano and Vanyume tribes lived along the Mojave River, relying on the river’s intermittent flow for food and trade.
• Trails used by these tribes would later become parts of the Mojave Road, Old Spanish Trail, and Salt Lake Road.

---

1850s–1870s: Pioneer Waystations and Early Ranching

• 1858: Aaron G. Lane establishes Lane’s Crossing on the Mojave River (present-day Oro Grande/Victorville area), offering rest and resupply to travelers heading west.
• Lane is considered the first permanent American settler along the Mojave River.
• Summit Valley, near present-day Hesperia, sees increased grazing by early ranchers.
• The Summit Valley Massacre (1866): A conflict between settlers and Native groups over livestock thefts and land disputes—an often overlooked but significant local tragedy.

---

1880s: Railroads and Town Foundations

• 1885: The California Southern Railroad, part of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe system, reaches the High Desert.
• A telegraph and railroad station named Victor is established, later renamed Victorville in 1901 to avoid confusion with Victor, Colorado.
• Jacob Nash Victor, the railroad manager, is the town’s namesake.
• The Hesperia Land and Water Company, led by James G. Howland, promotes Hesperia. It lays out plans for an agricultural colony and resort town, though irrigation plans fall short.

---

1900s–1930s: Modest Growth and Agriculture

• Hesperia experiments with vineyards, orchards, and dairy farms, but water shortages and harsh conditions hinder success.
• Victorville grows as a railroad shipping center and stopover for travelers crossing the desert.
• The Victor Elementary School District is formed in 1906.
• Early buildings still visible include the Hesperia Schoolhouse (Main St. and C Ave.).

---

1940s: War Changes Everything

• 1941: Victorville Army Airfield (later George Air Force Base) is established on the western edge of Victorville.
• The base brings thousands of military personnel, rapid infrastructure growth, and federal investment.
• Apple Valley remains mostly desert ranchland, but interest grows due to its mild climate and open space.

---

1948–1950s: Apple Valley Booms

• 1948: Apple Valley Inn opens, built by Newt Bass and Bud Westlund to attract investors and wealthy land buyers.
• Stars like Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, and President Eisenhower stay at the inn.
• Murray’s Dude Ranch (founded earlier, 1920s–30s): One of the few Black-owned resorts in the country. It hosted African American guests during segregation and was used in Black-cast Western films.
• Roy Rogers and Dale Evans buy a ranch in Apple Valley and become its best-known residents, eventually opening Roy Rogers’ Apple Valley Inn.

---

1950s–1960s: Expansion and Identity

• Hesperia Inn and the Hesperia Golf & Country Club try to rekindle resort dreams. Jack Dempsey, the former boxing champion, lends his name to a museum at the inn.
• Victorville grows with new housing and infrastructure to support the military population.
• Route 66 runs right through Old Town Victorville, lined with diners, motels, and neon signs.

---

1970s–1980s: Steady Growth and Cultural Legacy

• Apple Valley becomes a desirable retirement destination, marketing itself as a “Better Way of Life.”
• Civic leaders like Bud Westlund and Newton Bass help shape the town’s modern layout and community services.
• The California Route 66 Museum opens in Victorville in a former café, preserving the highway’s local legacy.

---

1992–2000s: Transformation and Reinvention

• 1992: George Air Force Base closes under federal military restructuring, dealing a blow to Victorville’s economy.
• The base is repurposed into Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA), an international freight and aerospace hub.
• Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Victorville begin to urbanize, growing into commuter towns for the Inland Empire and Los Angeles.

---

2000s–Present: Modern Challenges and Historic Preservation

• Victor Valley College, founded in 1961, continues to serve the region.
• Old Town Victorville Revitalization Project aims to preserve the historic downtown.
• Apple Valley promotes its Western heritage through the Happy Trails Highway and events honoring Roy and Dale.
• Hesperia Lake Park, Silverwood Lake, and local trails draw new visitors and recreation seekers.

1862 – John and Dennis Searles were out in the Mojave looking for gold when they stumbled on something unexpected: borax crystals in a dry lakebed. That discovery would change the valley forever.

1873 – The brothers formed the San Bernardino Borax Mining Company and started pulling borax from the dry lake that would later bear their name—Searles Lake.

1908 – With more minerals beneath the lakebed than anyone first realized, the California Trona Company staked big claims. Potash, especially, was in high demand.

1910–1915 – The “Potash Wars” kicked off. Competing companies (and even folks like Wyatt Earp) scrambled for control over the riches buried in the lake.

1913 – The American Trona Corporation took over, built up operations, and founded the town of Trona as a place for its workers to live.

1914 – The Trona Railway was completed, finally connecting this remote desert town to the wider world by rail.

1922–1928 – A strange little monorail carried Epsom salts across the lake. It was a short-lived experiment but a memorable one.

1926 – The company rebranded as American Potash and Chemical. It wasn’t just borax anymore—Trona was now producing various industrial minerals.

1967 – Kerr-McGee, known more for oil and nuclear work, bought up the operation and brought big changes.

1974 – The company town model was starting to fade. Kerr-McGee began stepping back from running the town, which upset many locals who had grown up in the tightly-knit community.

1990 – North American Chemical took over the operation for a hefty price, over $200 million. The handoffs kept coming.

1998–2008—The plant changed hands again—IMC Global, then Sun Capital (which renamed it Searles Valley Minerals), and finally Nirma, an Indian company, took ownership.

2019 – A strong earthquake hit near Ridgecrest and shook Trona hard. Homes and roads were damaged, and the town’s resilience was tested again.

---

Today, Trona is still where the earth gives up its hidden riches, but it’s also a town with weathered booms, busts, and quakes. It’s got one of the strangest and most beautiful backyards in California—the Trona Pinnacles—where ancient tufa towers rise from the dry lakebed, a reminder that this place has always been shaped by deep time and strong forces.

Historical Timeline

Before 1800 – Native Life and Ancient Trails
Before Barstow had a name, Native people like the Vanyume, Mojave, Chemehuevi, and Serrano lived along the Mojave River. They traveled by foot along established desert routes, following water and trade paths that crisscrossed the region. These ancient trails later became vital to everyone who came afterward.

1776 – Garcés Crosses the Desert
Spanish missionary Francisco Garcés passed through the Mojave River area using Native routes. He named the river “Rio de las Ánimas” and described the desert in both spiritual and survivalist terms. His journals gave future travelers clues on how to make the crossing.

1826 – Jedediah Smith Comes Through
American trapper Jedediah Smith followed the Mojave River from the Colorado River westward, using guidance from the Mojave people. He was the first American to make the overland journey into California from the east.

1830s–1840s – Old Spanish Trail and Mormon Road
Mexican traders opened the Old Spanish Trail through the area, followed by American settlers and Mormon wagons after 1848. The Barstow area—still unnamed—was a key water stop along the river, often called “Fish Ponds” or “Grapevines” by passing wagon trains.

1850s–1860s – Grapevines Camp and Beale’s Mojave Road
The U.S. government ordered surveys and improvements to overland routes to secure travel across the desert. One of the best-known efforts was Beale’s Wagon Road, laid out in 1857–1858 by Lt. Edward Fitzgerald Beale. His mission: survey a wagon route from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Los Angeles—and test out camels along the way.
Beale followed part of the Old Spanish Trail and overlapped the Mojave Road from the Colorado River through the Mojave River corridor. Near Barstow, he likely passed through the Grapevines camp, using the same shaded stretch of river that had served Native peoples for centuries. Beale’s Mojave Road helped formalize a transcontinental route and gave the government a clearer picture of the land’s value.
Later, the military used this same road to move troops and protect settlers during increasing tensions with Native tribes. In 1860, Camp Cady was built about 20 miles east of present-day Barstow as an Army post along the Mojave Road. The Barstow area (still not yet a town) became a well-used midpoint along this corridor.

1880s – Railroads and Silver Fever
The 1880s changed everything. Railroads moved in—first Southern Pacific, then Santa Fe. A small camp at the river junction became a full-blown railroad stop called Waterman Junction, later renamed Barstow. At the same time, silver and borax were discovered nearby in the Calico Mountains, launching a desert mining boom. Barstow, Daggett, and Calico worked as a trio: one ran on ore, handled freight, and kept the trains moving.

1886 – Barstow Gets Its Name
Santa Fe Railroad named the new depot town after its president, William Barstow Strong. With the name came a post office, businesses, and permanence. Barstow began to eclipse Daggett and Calico as the region’s main center.

1890s–1900s – Mining Slows, Rail Keeps Rolling
As mining faded, the railroad kept Barstow alive. Calico was mainly abandoned by 1907, but Barstow held on as a shipping and transport town. The desert may have emptied, but trains kept coming.

1911 – The Harvey House Shines
The Casa del Desierto opened in 1911. This fancy Harvey House hotel and depot served rail passengers with meals, lodging, and class. It became Barstow’s pride and stood as a desert icon for decades.

1920s – Barstow Becomes a Highway Town
With cars replacing trains for many, Barstow shifted from a rail town to a highway town. In 1925, Main Street was rerouted to better serve autos instead of trains. Then in 1926, U.S. Route 66 was designated and passed through town.

1929 – Brief Brush with the Sky
Barstow joined the early air travel history with a short-lived desert airport picked by Charles Lindbergh’s airline. Though it didn’t last, it was a sign of Barstow’s connection to every new frontier—rails, roads, and even the skies.

1940s – The Military Moves In
World War II brought the military to the Mojave. The Army opened Camp Irwin north of town for training, and the Marine Corps opened a logistics base near Barstow. These bases brought families, jobs, and a new phase of growth.

1947 – Barstow Becomes a City
In 1947, Barstow officially incorporated. It was no longer just a camp or a depot—it was a proper desert city.

1950s–1962 – Crossroads of the Desert
Route 66, U.S. 91, and U.S. 466 all ran through downtown Barstow. The town boomed with gas stations, motels, and diners. In 1960, Barstow College opened. In 1961, Camp Irwin became Fort Irwin, a permanent base. By 1962, Barstow stood proud as the desert’s “Crossroads of Opportunity,” with a deep history rooted in ancient trails, bold explorers, wagons, rails, and desert grit.

Historical Timeline

c. 9000 BCE – Indigenous peoples, likely ancestors of the Kitanemuk and other local tribes, begin using the Antelope Valley for seasonal travel and trade. The valley serves as a crossroads between the Mojave Desert and coastal regions.

1772 – Spanish explorer Pedro Fages passed through the Antelope Valley during early inland expeditions north of San Gabriel Mission.

1800s (early) – The valley remains sparsely used by Spanish and later Mexican ranchers, with little permanent non-native settlement.

1848 – California becomes part of the United States following the Mexican-American War. American settlers begin trickling in.

1854 – Fort Tejon is established to the west of the valley. It becomes a military post and supply route, protecting settlers and goods traveling through Grapevine Canyon and the valley floor.

1858 – The Butterfield Overland Mail sets up a stagecoach route crossing the valley, including stops near present-day Lancaster and Mojave.

1860 – The Los Angeles to San Francisco telegraph line cuts across the valley, a key advancement in communication.

1860s–1870s: Ranching became more common as open land and rail access attracted cattlemen. H.J. Butterworth and others ran large cattle operations.

1876 – The Southern Pacific Railroad reaches the valley, connecting it with Los Angeles and the Central Valley. This leads to the development of rail towns such as Mojave.

1880s – Early farming begins, especially around Lancaster and Rosamond, spurred by unusually wet weather. A few antelopes still roam the open grasslands but vanish by the decade’s end due to overhunting and dry winters.

1884 – Lancaster is officially established as a station town along the Southern Pacific line.

1886 – Mojave becomes a critical rail junction connecting the SP and the Borax routes to the desert.

1890s – Agriculture spreads, especially dry farming of wheat and barley. Homesteaders attempt to settle remote areas. In 1894, a severe drought begins, devastating crops and driving many settlers away.

Early 1900s – Irrigation and windmill-powered wells slowly return life to abandoned farms. Electricity arrives, helping boost productivity.

1913 – The Los Angeles Aqueduct is completed by William Mulholland, delivering water from the Owens Valley to L.A. The project passes through the Antelope Valley and contributes to growth and infrastructure.

1921 – Palmdale is formally incorporated as a town site, growing from a rural colony founded by Swiss and German families in the late 1880s.

1933 – Muroc Army Airfield (later Edwards Air Force Base) is established. This brings a long-term military and technological presence to the valley.

1940s – World War II transforms the Antelope Valley into an aerospace hub. Military testing and development expand rapidly.

1950s – Both Palmdale and Lancaster grow quickly as workers settle in to support Edwards AFB and companies like Lockheed. Suburbs, schools, and civic centers appear.

1962 – Palmdale is officially incorporated as a city.

1977 – The space shuttle Enterprise makes its test flights at Edwards AFB, showcasing the valley’s role in national aerospace history.

1980s–2000s – Growth continues, with the valley balancing residential expansion, agriculture, and ongoing defense contracting work.

Today – Palmdale and Lancaster anchor the valley, which supports farming, aerospace, solar energy, and commuters. The wide desert skies and quiet spaces remain a draw, as do the area’s historical roots.

Historical Timeline

Prehistoric times
Before any fort was built, the Tejon Pass area was a natural corridor for Native peoples like the Kitanemuk and Yokuts. They hunted in the rolling hills, traded along the ancient trails, and lived near springs and oak groves.

1772
Spanish explorer Pedro Fages, one of the earliest Europeans to pass through the area, later gave the region its name. The nearby Tejon Canyon (meaning “badger” in Spanish) was named after the region.

1854
Fort Tejon was established by the U.S. Army to protect settlers, mail routes, and ranches from raiding and to keep peace between Native groups and new arrivals. It was one of the earliest Army posts in California’s interior.

1854–1864
Fort Tejon operated as a frontier outpost. Soldiers lived in simple adobe and wooden buildings and patrolled the region on horseback. The fort also oversaw a military experiment—the U.S. Camel Corps. A handful of camels were brought in to test their usefulness in desert transport. Though the camels proved capable, the experiment didn’t last.

1857
The Fort Tejon earthquake struck on January 9. With an estimated magnitude of 7.9, it remains one of the largest earthquakes in California’s history. The epicenter was near the San Andreas Fault, not far from the fort, and the shaking was felt as far north as San Francisco.

1861
When the Civil War broke out, most U.S. Army troops were withdrawn from California. Fort Tejon was briefly used by California volunteer units but never regained its earlier importance.

1864
The Army abandoned Fort Tejon. Buildings fell into disrepair, and the site mainly became quiet, used for ranching and grazing.

1930s
Interest in preserving California’s early military history grew. Restoration efforts began, and Fort Tejon became a California State Historic Park.

Today
Fort Tejon is a quiet, scenic park in oak woodlands near Lebec, just off Interstate 5. A few restored buildings remain, including the barracks and officers’ quarters. Reenactments, educational programs, and exhibits help visitors step back in time to the era of frontier California, before freeways and fast food replaced mules and mess halls.

Historical Timeline

Prehistoric times
Before there was a town, the Paiute-Shoshone people lived in the Owens Valley for thousands of years. They built irrigation ditches, hunted game, and grew native crops. The area around modern Lone Pine had creeks, springs, and fertile land—ideal for their way of life.

1834
Explorer Joseph Walker passed through the valley. His route over Walker Pass helped open the area to future travel and settlement.

1861
Silver was discovered in the Inyo Mountains, and miners arrived in droves. Lone Pine was founded as a supply point for the booming Cerro Gordo mines across the valley. It was named after a single pine tree that once stood near Lone Pine Creek.

1865
Tragedy struck when a deadly earthquake hit the Owens Valley. The quake, estimated at magnitude 7.4, caused major damage to Lone Pine. Nearly every building collapsed, and about 27 people died. Fault scarps from that quake can still be seen today.

1870s
Lone Pine grew as the main gateway to Cerro Gordo and later Darwin. Mules hauled ore, and wagons loaded up supplies. The town had blacksmiths, boarding houses, saloons, and a steady stream of travelers and prospectors.

1880s–1890s
The Carson & Colorado Railroad came through the valley, reaching Lone Pine’s southern neighbor, Keeler. Though Lone Pine wasn’t directly on the rail line, it remained an important hub for travelers and freighters.

Early 1900s
Lone Pine began to shift from a mining supply town to a ranching and tourism center. Its location at the foot of the Sierra Nevada made it a natural base for climbers, hikers, and adventurers headed toward Mount Whitney—the tallest peak in the lower 48 states.

1924
The first film crew arrived. Lone Pine’s wide-open spaces and rugged scenery made it a Western favorite. Over the decades, hundreds of movies were filmed in the nearby Alabama Hills, featuring stars like John Wayne, Roy Rogers, and Clint Eastwood.

1930s–1950s
Lone Pine’s movie legacy grew. Local businesses thrived on tourism and film production. At the same time, the town’s ranching and farming roots kept it grounded. The Los Angeles Aqueduct, built in the 1910s and expanded later, continued to drain water from the Owens Valley, creating conflict with local farmers.

1942
The Manzanar War Relocation Center opened just north of town. This internment camp held over 10,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. Lone Pine residents witnessed one of the darker chapters in U.S. history up close.

1960s–1980s
The town kept a steady pace. Tourists came for fishing, hiking, and climbing. Lone Pine remained a place where folks stopped on their way to Death Valley or Yosemite.

1990s–Today
Lone Pine embraces its movie history with the annual Lone Pine Film Festival and the Museum of Western Film History. It also serves as a base for outdoor enthusiasts, with Mount Whitney, the Alabama Hills, and countless hiking trails right outside town. Despite its small size, Lone Pine holds onto a big piece of California history—mining, movies, mountains, and more.

Prehistoric times
The shores of Owens Lake were once rich with freshwater, attracting Native Paiute people who fished, hunted, and gathered in the area. Springs bubbled up from the ground, and the lake supported a lively wetland ecosystem. Cartago’s location—near these springs—made it a natural spot for early settlement and seasonal camps.

1860s
As silver boomed in the Cerro Gordo Mountains across the lake, miners and teamsters looked for easier ways to move ore. Sitting on the west shore of Owens Lake, Cartago became a key transfer point. Mule teams brought silver down the mountains to Keeler, where it was loaded onto steamships. Those steamers crossed the lake to Cartago, where the ore was offloaded and hauled south to Los Angeles.

1870s
Cartago developed as a lakeside depot. It had stables, a stage stop, and a few homes. The ore business fueled regular traffic, and the lake—still full of water—was an important part of the operation. During this time, steamboats like the Bessie Brady and Mollie Stevens worked the route across the lake.

1873
The Bessie Brady, a 70-foot steamship that could carry 30 tons of ore and passengers, helped make the trip across Owens Lake in just a few hours. Cartago was busy and essential during this time.

1880s
Cartago’s role diminished as Cerro Gordo’s ore output declined and the Carson & Colorado Railroad reached Keeler on the opposite side of the lake. The steamships stopped running, and freight shifted to rail. Cartago remained a small community, but its peak as a transfer hub was over.

Early 1900s
Cartago hung on with a handful of residents and ranching families. Springs in the area continued to supply water, and the views of the Sierra Nevada gave the town a quiet beauty. However, the drying of Owens Lake due to the Los Angeles Aqueduct began changing the landscape.

1920s–1940s
With Owens Lake nearly gone, dust storms became common. Cartago stayed small, mostly known to travelers heading north or south on the road that would become U.S. Route 395. Some mining continued in nearby hills, but it was nothing like the early boom days.

Today
Cartago is a tiny dot on the map, just north of Olancha. It’s mostly known for its history, a scattering of old buildings, and the natural springs still flowing nearby. Travelers pass through on their way to Lone Pine or Death Valley, often unaware that this sleepy stop was once a key part of the Owens Valley mining story.

Historical Timeline

Prehistoric times
The area near Keeler, on the eastern shore of Owens Lake, was once full of water and wildlife. Native Paiute people lived nearby, fishing and gathering in a thriving lakeside environment that looked very different from today’s dry salt flats.

1860s
A booming mining camp took off after silver was discovered in the Cerro Gordo Mountains, high above Owens Lake. The problem was getting ore out and supplies in. In 1872, a large earthquake damaged the town of Swansea (just north of modern Keeler), prompting a shift in activity to a nearby landing.

1873
The landing at the edge of Owens Lake became increasingly important. It allowed wagons to offload silver ore onto barges that floated across the lake to Cartago. From there, we continued to Los Angeles.

1879
The town of Keeler was founded by Julius M. Keeler, who built a mill to process ore from Cerro Gordo. Keeler quickly became a bustling lakeport, and steamships like the Bessie Brady ferried people and freight across the lake.

1883
A fire destroyed the Bessie Brady, one of the fastest and most famous steamships on Owens Lake. This marked the beginning of the end for steamer traffic.

1880s–1890s
As Owens Lake began to dry up due to natural cycles and upstream diversions, Keeler shifted more toward the railroad. In 1883, the Carson & Colorado Railroad reached Keeler, making it the end of the line. It brought supplies and carried ore out, replacing much of the lake traffic.

Early 1900s
Keeler was still going strong, serving as the railhead for Inyo County and the gateway to Cerro Gordo, Darwin, and other mining districts.

1920s
The Los Angeles Aqueduct began draining the Owens River, and by the late 1920s, Owens Lake had all but vanished. Dust storms became common, and the town’s lakefront identity faded. Still, the mines and the railroad kept Keeler alive.

1950s
Mining slowed, and the railroad stopped running. Keeler’s population shrank as people moved on. Buildings emptied, and the town started to fade.

1960
The Carson & Colorado’s rails were torn up. The last train had rolled through just a few years before. Keeler’s days as a shipping center were officially over.

Today
Keeler is a near-ghost town with a few residents and a haunting beauty. The lakebed stretches dry and white, the wind kicks up alkaline dust, and the old schoolhouse and post office are reminders of what once was. Nearby, Cerro Gordo has seen renewed interest, but Keeler remains quiet, watching the lake it used to depend on, which is now mostly gone.

Historical Timeline

Prehistoric times
Before Trona became a mining town, the Searles Valley was home to Native American groups like the Timbisha Shoshone. They lived off the land, finding water at springs and leaving behind tools and artifacts now studied by archaeologists. The nearby dry lakebed, Searles Lake, had formed minerals for thousands of years.

1860s–1870s
Explorers and surveyors started noticing the unusual mineral crusts on Searles Lake. At first, the area was too remote and dry for large-scale use, but reports of borax and other minerals caught some interest.

Late 1800s
John and Dennis Searles tried mining borax from the lake. They scraped and hauled what they could using wagons, but the isolation and lack of water made the effort tough. Still, their name stuck: Searles Lake and Searles Valley.

1913
The real turning point came when the American Trona Corporation was formed. They built a processing plant and a rail line to haul minerals to San Pedro. That same year, the company town of Trona was founded and named after a mineral found in the lake.

1914
The Trona Railway was completed. This narrow-gauge line connected Trona with the Southern Pacific line in Searles Station, helping the town grow and allowing minerals to reach global markets.

1920s–1930s
Trona became a full-fledged company town. The company ran the school, hospital, post office, and housing. Life in Trona was isolated but stable. Summers were brutally hot, winters dry and cold, and everything was coated in a salty dust. Still, families built lives there.

1940s
During World War II, the demand for potash and other chemicals from Searles Lake surged. Trona boomed. More housing was built, and the town grew tighter as workers contributed to the war effort.

1950s–1960s
Life in Trona continued with the rhythms of the plant and the school. The famous Trona High School football team gained attention for playing all their home games on a dirt field—there wasn’t enough water for grass.

1970s–1990s
Ownership of the mineral operations changed hands multiple times, but the town kept going. The railroad was updated, and the plant remained one of the only places producing certain rare minerals in the world.

2019
Trona was hit hard by the same earthquake sequence that struck Ridgecrest. Old buildings cracked, water lines broke, and the community faced a tough recovery. But as always, the people of Trona pulled together.

Today
Trona is smaller than it once was, but it’s still alive. The mineral plant continues to operate, drawing workers from nearby towns. The community remains proud, tough, and closely tied to the land, just like it’s been for over a century.

Historical Timeline

Prehistoric times
Long before there was a town, Native American groups like the Paiute, Shoshone, and Kawaiisu lived in the area we now call Ridgecrest. They left behind thousands of petroglyphs—carvings in rock that told stories of their lives, beliefs, and environment. The Coso Rock Art District, especially Little Petroglyph Canyon, still holds some incredible examples.

1826
Explorer Jedediah Smith passed through Indian Wells Valley, marking one of the first recorded non-Native visits to the region.

1834
Joseph Walker crossed through Walker Pass, opening a route others would follow into the Owens Valley and beyond.

1880s
Chinese workers who were helping build the Southern Pacific Railroad briefly lived nearby. A small settlement near a dry lakebed earned the name “China Lake.”

1912
A small farming town called Crumville was established, named after local dairy farmers James and Robert Crum. It was a modest place with just a few families trying to make a living off the land.

1941
The Crumville post office opened, a sign the community was taking root.

1943
The U.S. Navy chose the area for the Naval Ordnance Test Station, later known as China Lake. This changed everything. The quiet farm town quickly grew as workers, scientists, and military personnel moved in to support the base.

1962
Locals opened the Maturango Museum to celebrate the region’s natural beauty, desert wildlife, geology, and Native history.

1963
The growing town officially became the City of Ridgecrest. Its future would stay closely tied to the naval base.

1986
The Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert was formed to help preserve local landmarks, photos, and memories from the early days.

1995
A 5.4 earthquake shook the area. Though not catastrophic, it reminded folks they lived in earthquake country.

2019
On July 4 and again on July 5, two big quakes struck—a 6.4 followed by a 7.1. The shaking damaged roads and buildings, and put Ridgecrest in the national spotlight for a few days.

Today
Ridgecrest is home to over 40,000 people and still serves as the civilian neighbor to the military base at China Lake. It’s a gateway to the northern Mojave and places like Death Valley, but it also has its own story—one of resilience, science, and small-town pride in a desert setting.

Historical Timeline

Pre-1800s—Long before it was known for racing, the El Mirage area was home to Native American tribes like the Serrano and Mojave. They moved through the desert, trading, hunting, and finding water in unexpected places.

1920s – As cars became more popular, speed lovers started showing up at the dry lakebed to race. The lake’s flat, hard surface made it a natural racetrack, and the wide-open space meant no one was around to complain.

1937 – The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) was formed to bring some order to the chaos. With rules and timers in place, El Mirage officially became a destination for serious land speed racers.

1942 – During World War II, the U.S. military opened El Mirage Airfield as a training ground connected to Victorville Army Airfield. Pilots practiced in the desert skies above the dry lake.

Post-WWII – After the war, the airfield was decommissioned and later repurposed. General Atomics began using the area to test unmanned aerial vehicles—drones that would help shape the future of aviation.

1980s–Today – The Bureau of Land Management stepped in and designated El Mirage as an official Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Area. It’s now a legal playground for dirt bikes, quads, and other off-road machines.

1995 – The music video for “California Love” by Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre was filmed at El Mirage. The cracked lakebed and wild desert scenes gave it the perfect post-apocalyptic vibe.

Today, El Mirage is still a magnet for racers, off-roaders, and filmmakers. Whether you’re chasing a land speed record or just catching a desert sunset, it’s a place that blends dust, history, and adrenaline.

Historical Timeline

1800s – The area that would become Valyermo is home to Native American groups, including the Serrano people, who travel seasonally through the valley, hunting and gathering in the San Gabriel Mountains and desert margins.

1850s–1880s – American settlers arrive following California statehood. The land is used primarily for ranching and farming. The remote valley, nestled at the foot of the mountains, remains quiet and sparsely populated.

1912—The land surrounding St. Andrew’s Abbey was first developed as a cattle ranch, later known as Hidden Springs Ranch. The valley’s fertile soil and spring-fed water make it suitable for agriculture.

1920s–1930s – The area grows modestly. A few more families settle, farming and living in the quiet mountain shadow. Roads remain rough, and access is limited.

1955 – A group of Benedictine monks from Belgium purchases the old ranch to establish St. Andrew’s Abbey, a Roman Catholic monastery. They convert the land into a religious retreat center. The abbey becomes the heart of Valyermo’s identity.

1960s–1980s – The abbey gains recognition as a peaceful destination for spiritual retreats, art, and religious study. The monks run a ceramics workshop that becomes well known for hand-crafted crosses and pottery. The surrounding valley remains largely rural.

1990s – Valyermo’s identity as a quiet, spiritual retreat community continues. The population stays small, and development remains minimal. The natural beauty and open spaces attract artists, writers, and those seeking solitude.

2000s–2010s – The community of Valyermo maintains its character as a secluded rural pocket in the Antelope Valley. St. Andrew’s Abbey expands its programs for visitors and guests. Conservation-minded residents work to preserve the land and prevent overdevelopment.

2020s–present – Valyermo remains a quiet, rural gem tucked into the Mojave’s edge. The abbey still operates, and the community stays small and close-knit. Visitors come for spiritual retreats, hiking in the nearby Devil’s Punchbowl and tasting high desert peace and quiet.

Historical Timeline

Pre-1910s – The area that would become Llano was mostly undeveloped high desert, scattered with a few early settlers and attempts at dryland farming. It was quiet, isolated, and rugged to make a living.

1911—Job Harriman, a socialist leader who had just lost the Los Angeles mayoral race, began planning a new kind of community based on cooperative living instead of capitalism.

1913—Harriman and his supporters purchased about 9,000 acres in the Antelope Valley to create their utopia. The land had some existing development and, most importantly, access to water.

May 1, 1914 – Llano del Rio officially opened with a few dozen settlers. The goal was to create a working socialist colony where residents shared labor, profit, and ownership.

1915–1916 – The colony grew quickly to over 1,000 residents. They built communal kitchens, schools, workshops, and even a hotel. Architect Alice Constance Austin designed futuristic communal housing, which was never fully realized.

1917—Tensions rose over how the colony should be run. Combined with water shortages and its remote location, idealism began to crack. Disputes over leadership and resources pushed people to leave.

1918 – Llano del Rio folded. About 60 families relocated to Louisiana to try again in New Llano. The Antelope Valley colony was abandoned, leaving the stone ruins visible today.

Today, the remains of Llano del Rio can be seen along Highway 138. The site is a California Historical Landmark, remembered as one of the boldest and largest non-religious utopian experiments in the American West.

Historical Timeline

Pre-1800s – Native American tribes, primarily the Kitanemuk and Serrano, lived in the area for generations. They followed seasonal rhythms, gathering plants, hunting game, and using the natural springs and creeks that flowed down the San Gabriel Mountains.

Mid-1800s – European-American settlers began to arrive. The region’s open land, steady sunshine, and access to water from nearby canyons made it attractive for small farms and ranches. Homesteads began to dot the valley.

In the late 1800s, Fruit trees—especially pear trees—were planted, and in springtime, the landscape filled with white blossoms. That image gave the town its name: Pearblossom. The community slowly took shape around small farms and trading posts.

Early 1900s – Pearblossom remained a quiet agricultural community. Residents grew pears, apples, and other crops suited to the Antelope Valley climate. Life moved at a slower pace, and neighbors relied on one another.

1930s–1950s – While nearby towns like Palmdale and Lancaster grew thanks to the aerospace industry, Pearblossom kept its small-town feel. Families continued to work the land, and the community stayed tight-knit.

1960s – Pearblossom Highway (State Route 138) became a main route connecting travelers from the Los Angeles Basin to the High Desert and beyond. Pearblossom became a known stop along the way, though traffic brought both opportunity and concern.

1980s – British artist David Hockney photographed the area and created a famous photo collage titled Pearblossom Highway. His work captured the dry beauty and roadside oddities of the region, giving the town an unexpected spot in modern art.

Today – Pearblossom still holds onto its rural charm. The orchards may be fewer, but the name and spirit remain. Locals enjoy the peace, and visitors pass through on their way to places like the Devil’s Punchbowl—a nearby natural area filled with jagged rock formations and hiking trails.

Historical Timeline

1800s – Long before Littlerock had a name, the Piute people lived off the land, relying on the creek and the surrounding desert for food and water. They were the first to understand the rhythms of this high desert place.

Mid-1800s—A man named Santiago García, with Mexican and Native Californian roots, built an adobe home near Littlerock Creek. He was one of the first non-native settlers to settle here.

1893—The town was named Littlerock after the nearby Little Rock Wash. That same year, the first post office opened. It wasn’t much, but it meant folks planned to stay.

Early 1900s – Orchards began to dot the landscape, and Littlerock soon became known as the “Fruit Basket of the Antelope Valley.” Apples, almonds, peaches, and pears thrived here thanks to the good soil and sunny days.

1913 – The first schoolhouse opened, giving local kids a place to learn close to home.

1914 – A library followed, helping turn this small farming town into a real community.

1924 – The Littlerock Dam was built, helping farmers store and manage water for crops. It was a game-changer for agriculture in the valley.

1942 – The town’s first church was dedicated, offering a place to gather and reflect, especially important during the tough times of World War II.

Post-WWII, Littlerock saw some growth, but it maintained its small-town, rural spirit while the rest of Southern California boomed.

Today, Littlerock remains proud of its farming roots and quiet charm. Charlie Brown Farms stands as a roadside favorite, and the surrounding high desert and mountains remind everyone why folks settled here in the first place.

Historical Timeline

Pre-1776: Willow Springs was a lifeline in the Mojave Desert for centuries. Natural springs made it a vital rest stop for Native peoples, wildlife, and early travelers crossing the dry high desert.

1776: Spanish missionary Francisco Garcés passed through the area and noted the springs in his journals. It was the first known written record of Willow Springs.

1844: Explorer John C. Frémont camped here under the shady willows during one of his expeditions. Back then, this little water source was one of the few dependable spots in the region.

1850: Members of the Jayhawker and Bennett-Arcan parties, who had gotten lost trying to cross Death Valley, stumbled upon Willow Springs. It saved their lives.

1860s: As silver poured out of Cerro Gordo and other desert mines, freight wagons and stagecoaches made Willow Springs a key stop. It was a desert pit stop for the booming mineral trade.

1862: Nelson and Adelia Ward settled near the springs and built an adobe inn, affectionately known as the “Hotel de Rush” because of the nonstop stream of guests needing food, shelter, and water.

1864–1872: The stage lines between Los Angeles and Havilah regularly stopped here. The little station at Willow Springs was part of the high desert’s transportation backbone.

1875: The Riley family was running the station when bandits — remnants of the Tiburcio Vásquez gang — staged a robbery. Crime rode the trails, too.

1900: Ezra “Struck-it-Rich” Hamilton bought the land and springs, hoping to support his mining ventures with the water. He saw more than just dust and rock — he saw a future.

1904: Hamilton poured more than $40,000 into building a resort town. He built 27 stone buildings: a hotel, a school, a swimming pool, and more. For a while, Willow Springs buzzed with promise.

1909–1918: The community had its own post office — a mark of stability and connection to the wider world.

1915: After Hamilton died, interest in the resort faded, and the land changed hands. Without his leadership, the town began to fade.

1952: The Tehachapi earthquake damaged several of the original stone buildings and shook up what was left of the settlement.

1953: Just down the road, Willow Springs International Raceway opened. It became the oldest permanent road racing facility in the U.S. and drew drivers and car lovers from all over.

1962: Bill Huth bought the raceway and turned it into a hotspot for motorsports, hosting countless events over the years.

1996: The raceway was officially recognized as a California Point of Historical Interest — a nod to its unique role in racing history.

2015: Bill Huth passed away, but his family kept the raceway running, honoring his legacy.

2024: The Huth family put Willow Springs Raceway up for sale, possibly closing a major chapter in California motorsports history.

Present Day: The original springs have dried up, but the name and the stories remain. The ruins of Ezra Hamilton’s stone resort still stand, and the engines’ roar echoes from the track nearby. Willow Springs is where desert survival, gold rush dreams, and racing legends all intersect.

Historical Timeline

Pre-1800s: Long before it had a name, the Tehachapi Valley was home to the Kawaiisu people. They called themselves Nuwu, meaning “the people,” and lived off the land, moving with the seasons between the Mojave Desert and the southern Sierra.

1776: Spanish missionary Francisco Garcés crossed the Tehachapi Mountains using Oak Creek Pass, the only known route. He was among the first Europeans to explore the area on foot and horseback.

1854: John Moore and Amanda Brite became the area’s first known permanent settlers. They homesteaded in Brite Valley, built a home, raised livestock, and even opened a lumber business.

1860s: The first organized town in the valley was Williamsburg, or “Tehichipa.” It was four miles west of modern Tehachapi and was a key stop for stagecoaches and travelers between the San Joaquin Valley and Los Angeles.

1869: Gold prospector and rancher Peter D. Greene was appointed postmaster at the Oak Creek stage stop. The settlement around the post office became known as Tehichipa.

1874–1876: The Southern Pacific Railroad blasted its way through the Tehachapi Mountains and built the now-famous Tehachapi Loop — an engineering marvel that let long trains gain elevation by looping over themselves. This railroad line linked San Francisco and Los Angeles.

1883: Tragedy struck when a runaway train derailed near Tehachapi, killing 15 people, including the wife of former California Governor John G. Downey. It was one of the deadliest accidents of its time.

1909: Tehachapi officially became a city on August 13. It had grown from a quiet stop into a small mountain town with its government.

1940s: During World War II, local farmers in the Tehachapi Valley grew massive amounts of potatoes and other crops to support the war effort, and agriculture was a big part of the town’s survival.

1952: A massive 7.3-magnitude earthquake rocked Kern County and severely damaged Tehachapi. Buildings collapsed, rail lines twisted, and 12 people lost their lives. The town rebuilt, stronger than before.

Late 20th Century: Tehachapi found itself on the cutting edge of renewable energy. The mountain passes around town are filled with wind turbines, making it one of the first places in the country to harness wind power at scale.

2008: The original Tehachapi Railroad Depot — the oldest structure in town — burned down during restoration. Locals were heartbroken, but they weren’t finished.

2010: Tehachapi rebuilt the depot from the original plans and opened it as a museum. It now stands as a tribute to the town’s railroading legacy.

Present Day: Tehachapi is a small mountain town with a big story — part pioneer, part rail town, part renewable energy hub. It’s known for its cool summers, snowy winters, historic downtown, and the hum of windmills spinning on the ridge.

Historical Timeline

Pre-1800s: The lake was a boundary zone for Native peoples including the Tataviam, Kitanemuk, and Serrano. The Tataviam may have called it “Kivarum.” These tribes gathered, hunted, and traded in the surrounding mountains and valleys.

1780: Spanish missionaries arrived, and Junípero Serra gave the lake a spooky name — “La Laguna de Diablo,” or Devil’s Lake — thanks to local stories of a creature said to live in the water.

1830s–1850s: The lake was later renamed “La Laguna de Chico Lopez,” after Francisco “Chico” Lopez, a rancher who ran cattle in the area during California’s rancho era.

1858–1861: Elizabeth Lake became a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail route — an early stagecoach trail linking the American West. It was a rugged but important link between Los Angeles and points east.

1869: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors created the Elizabeth Lake School District. At the time, it was the only school between Los Angeles and Bakersfield. Samuel and Almeda Frakes donated the land for it — a big contribution in a sparsely settled land.

1907–1911: Work began on the Elizabeth Lake Tunnel, one of the biggest undertakings of the Los Angeles Aqueduct project. Built 285 feet underground, the 5-mile tunnel set records in tunnel construction and helped bring Owens Valley water to a growing Los Angeles.

1924: Judge Hughes renamed a nearby sag pond “Lake Hughes” and turned it into a recreation spot, helping shift the region toward a mix of ranching and tourism.

2010: The Crown Fire swept through, burning over 13,000 acres and destroying homes. It was a painful reminder of how harsh and unforgiving the high desert can be.

2013–2023: The lake completely dried up due to years of drought — a striking symbol of California’s water struggles. Locals watched as a once-reliable water source turned to cracked earth and dry brush.

Present Day: Elizabeth Lake is a quiet, unincorporated community with a mix of longtime ranchers, weekend escapees, and folks drawn to the stillness of the high desert. Ghost stories still swirl about the “Devil’s Lake,” and the aqueduct tunnel runs silently beneath the ground — a reminder of the lake’s deep place in California history.

Historical Timeline

Pre-1800s: The Antelope Valley, where Palmdale sits today, was home to Indigenous peoples for over 11,000 years. It was a crossroads for trade and travel between the coast, the Central Valley, and the deserts beyond.

1772: Spanish explorer Pedro Fages passed through the region, and in 1773, Captain Juan Bautista de Anza and Father Francisco Garcés crossed the desert on their way to Monterey. These early expeditions helped open the California interior to settlers.

1886: A group of Swiss and German immigrants from the Midwest came west and set up a village they named “Palmenthal.” They mistook the spiky Joshua trees for palm trees, hence the name.

1888: A post office opened in Palmenthal, giving the settlement a bit of permanence. But dry farming conditions and drought soon sent residents searching for better ground.

1899: The settlers moved closer to the new Southern Pacific rail line, reestablishing the community under the name Palmdale. The railroad brought hope, supplies, and a lifeline to the outside world.

1913: The completion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct brought much-needed water into the region, which helped local farming efforts and supported future growth.

1915: Palmdale got its first newspaper, the Palmdale Post. It served a small but determined farming community.

1921: The first major road connecting Palmdale and Los Angeles opened — Mint Canyon Road, which would become part of U.S. Route 6. This helped bring in goods, visitors, and eventually commuters.

1924: The Little Rock Dam and Harold Reservoir (now Lake Palmdale) were built to store water for agriculture, giving farmers a better chance of survival in the high desert.

1933: Muroc Air Base (later Edwards Air Force Base) was established just north of Palmdale. Over time, this would dramatically influence the town’s economy and population.

1952: The U.S. Air Force established Plant 42, an aerospace testing and manufacturing facility. This cemented Palmdale’s role as a key player in aviation and defense.

1953: Lockheed Martin set up shop at Plant 42, kicking off decades of high-tech work in stealth aircraft and advanced aviation projects.

1956: The infamous “Battle of Palmdale” happened — an out-of-control Navy drone had to be shot down by fighter jets. It caused some unexpected damage, but no one was hurt.

1957: Palmdale High School opened, giving local kids a place to learn closer to home.

1962: Palmdale officially became a city on August 24, the first incorporated community in the Antelope Valley.

1964: The Antelope Valley Freeway (Highway 14) opened, offering a faster route to Los Angeles and sparking a wave of growth and commuters.

1971: The LA/Palmdale Regional Airport opened, intended to bring passenger flights and business to the area.

1977: Palmdale opened its first public library — a sign the town was maturing and growing culturally as well as economically.

1980s–1990s: Affordable housing and space to grow brought thousands of new residents to Palmdale. It became a commuter town for people working in LA but wanting more space and less cost.

2000s–Present: Palmdale now has over 169,000 residents and remains one of Southern California’s key aerospace and energy hubs. The city continues to balance growth with its desert roots, aviation history, and forward-looking vision.

Historical Timeline

Pre-1800s: For thousands of years, the Antelope Valley was home to Native peoples who lived off the land and traveled through the region for trade. Lancaster sits on ground once crisscrossed by ancient paths connecting the coast, the Central Valley, and the deserts beyond.

1876: The Southern Pacific Railroad laid down tracks through the valley, and a simple stop along the line became known as Lancaster. The trains tied together San Francisco and Los Angeles, and the town began to grow around the tracks.

1884: Moses Langley Wicks bought land from the railroad and laid out the town. He sold off parcels to settlers, mostly in 160-acre chunks, planting the seeds of the community.

1888: The Western Hotel opened its doors. It became the heart of town life and later housed workers building the Los Angeles Aqueduct — a project that would reshape Southern California.

1898: Gold was found in the nearby hills. Prospectors rushed in, and Lancaster got another burst of energy as miners came through for supplies and rest.

1929: Lancaster Airport was founded and would soon play a key role in aviation. It served as a pilot training site during World War II, preparing young aviators for action overseas.

1941–1945: War Eagle Field, west of Lancaster, became the Allied forces’ major flight training ground. The desert skies buzzed with student pilots learning to fly under wartime pressure.

1950s–1960s: Veterans returned home and settled in Lancaster. With jobs available in nearby aerospace industries and plenty of open land, Lancaster quickly expanded into a thriving desert suburb.

1977: Lancaster was officially incorporated as a city, giving locals more say in how their town would grow and function.

1990: The city created the Aerospace Walk of Honor to celebrate the brave test pilots who flew cutting-edge aircraft in the skies above the Antelope Valley.

2010: The city launched “The BLVD” project — a downtown revitalization effort that transformed the main street into a lively center for shopping, dining, and community events.

2013: Lancaster made national headlines by becoming the first city in the U.S. to require solar panels on all new homes. It was a bold step toward becoming a net-zero energy city.

Present Day: Lancaster is now a city of over 170,000 people, known for its aerospace heritage, solar power leadership, and creative downtown. It’s a desert town that continues to evolve, balancing its pioneer past with a high-tech future.

Historical Timeline

1876: The Southern Pacific Railroad pushed its tracks through the Mojave Desert, opening up a dry, windswept stretch of land that would soon see settlements grow around it.

1877: Rosamond was born as a railroad town, its name reportedly taken from the daughter of a Southern Pacific executive. It started as a dot on the map — mostly a stop for trains, water, and mail.

1885: A post office opened in Rosamond, giving the little railroad stop a touch of permanence. It meant the town was sticking around.

1890s: Gold was discovered in the hills around Rosamond. Prospectors showed up, and with them came saloons, general stores, and a shot of energy into the town’s economy.

1896: Ezra Hamilton struck it rich when he discovered gold and started mining operations in the area. His success drew others, and the Rosamond mining district sprang to life.

1933: The U.S. military established Muroc Army Air Field about 20 miles northeast of Rosamond. That outpost would later become the famous Edwards Air Force Base, bringing steady work and high-speed jets to the region.

1953: Willow Springs Raceway opened just outside of town, offering a track for racers and gearheads. It became one of the oldest permanent road courses in the U.S. and still hosts races today.

1970s–1980s: Rosamond began to grow as a commuter town. With nearby Palmdale and Lancaster expanding and Edwards AFB continuing operations, Rosamond became a quieter, more affordable place to live.

2000s–Present: Rosamond has kept growing. With around 21,000 residents today, it’s a small but steady community where aerospace, energy, and wide-open desert landscapes are part of everyday life.

Historical Timeline

1876: Mojave started as a dusty construction camp for the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was built to support the rail line heading through the desert, just a few tents and supply wagons initially.

1884–1889: Mojave became the western end of the famous twenty-mule team borax wagon route. These massive wagons hauled borax 165 miles from Death Valley to the railhead in Mojave — a tough trip through brutal terrain that’s now the stuff of legend.

1935: Kern County set up the Mojave Airport just east of town. It wasn’t built for tourists — it was meant to serve the booming mining operations in the region, especially gold and silver.

1941: As World War II approached, the government stepped in and upgraded the airport with paved runways and defense facilities. Mojave’s wide open skies made it a good place to train pilots.

1942–1946: After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Marine Corps took over the airport and turned it into Marine Corps Auxiliary Air Station Mojave. It became a central training hub during the war.

1953: The base reopened during the Korean War for more flight training. Mojave was no stranger to the sound of engines roaring overhead.

1961: When the Marines left, the county took over the airport again. Instead of letting it go quiet, they saw potential for something more.

1972: The East Kern Airport District was formed to manage the airport, and that decision laid the foundation for future developments.

1980s–1990s: Mojave became a leader in wind power. Thousands of wind turbines popped up in the hills, turning the desert into a renewable energy powerhouse.

2004: The town made history when SpaceShipOne launched from the Mojave Air and Space Port, becoming the first private manned spacecraft to reach space. Mojave had officially entered the space race.

2013: The local airport district officially changed its name to the Mojave Air and Space Port. What started as a mining airstrip became a global center for aerospace innovation.

Present Day: Mojave is a desert crossroads, a rocket-testing ground, a home to wind farms, and a place where old mining grit meets futuristic ambition. From mule teams to spacecraft, it’s always been about moving forward under wide open skies.

Historical Timeline

1919: A prospector named Pete Osdick hit silver in the Mojave Desert, not far from the boomtowns of Randsburg and Johannesburg. In his honor, what started as a small mining camp was named Osdick — a few shacks and tents in a sea of sagebrush.

1922: The Osdick post office opened, putting the place on the map. With the mail came more miners, investors, and hangers-on hoping to strike it rich in the silver fields.

1929: As the area grew and the hills took on a more permanent character, the name was changed to Red Mountain, inspired by the reddish tones of the surrounding desert rock.

1920s–1930s: Red Mountain boomed alongside the Kelly Silver Mine, one of the richest silver producers in California at the time. The town had a rough charm—miners by day and a rowdy nightlife after dark. Saloons like the Owl Café served whiskey, gossip, and dancing until morning.

1930s: The silver market took a nosedive, and with it went the town’s good fortune. Mine slowed, people drifted away, and Red Mountain settled into a quiet decline.

Present Day: Red Mountain is a quiet desert outpost with a few dozen residents and the weathered bones of a mining past. Old headframes and dusty relics can still be seen along the road. Though the rush is long gone, Red Mountain remains part of the story that gold and silver wrote across the Mojave.

Historical Timeline

1893: Prospectors were already combing the Mojave Desert when gold was found at Goler Wash, setting off the first wave of attention in what would soon become the Rand Mining District.

April 1895: John Singleton, Charles Burcham, and Frederic Mooers hit a rich vein of gold on Rand Mountain. That claim became the Yellow Aster Mine — one of the most productive gold mines in Southern California. Their find kicked off a real gold rush.

December 1895: A tent city quickly sprang up around the Yellow Aster and was called Rand Camp. Miners, merchants, and all kinds of frontier folks came pouring in, setting up saloons, stores, and makeshift homes.

1896: Rand Camp was officially renamed Randsburg, and a post office was established — a sure sign that this dusty camp had grown into a town.

1897: The Randsburg Railway connected the town to Kramer Junction, making it easier to haul ore and supplies in and out. It was a vital link that kept the boom going strong.

1898: Two devastating fires tore through town. One burned half the buildings; the other followed just months later, destroying much of what had been rebuilt. But the town bounced back — as mining towns often did.

1903: Workers at the Yellow Aster Mine went on strike, protesting poor wages and conditions. Like many Western mining towns, labor tension simmered just under the surface.

1918: The Yellow Aster Mine shut down operations. It reopened briefly in 1921, but by 1933, it closed for good as the Great Depression and falling ore prices took their toll.

1933: The Randsburg Railway ceased operations that same year. The boom days were over, and the desert began to reclaim its silence.

Present Day: Randsburg is a living ghost town with a population of around 45 people. On weekends, motorcyclists and tourists stop in to explore old buildings, visit the general store, and soak in the frontier feel. It’s a place where the Wild West never quite faded — it just got a little quieter.

Historical Timeline

1895: Gold was discovered at the Yellow Aster Mine in nearby Randsburg. That discovery kicked off one of the most energetic mining booms in the Mojave Desert, and the region suddenly had a future.

1896: Johannesburg was founded to support the growing mining activity. It wasn’t named after someone local — the name came from Johannesburg, South Africa, another famous gold rush town. That international nod reflected the hopes people had for the area’s potential.

1897: The Randsburg Railway was completed, linking Johannesburg to Kramer Junction. Now miners could ship out their ore and supplies much faster, and the town began to hum with rail whistles and wagon wheels.

1900: Believe it or not, Johannesburg had its 9-hole golf course. It was the pride of the desert, with a 13-member club that included seven women. It was not exactly Pebble Beach, but it showed how much folks wanted to make the desert feel like home.

1919: Silver was struck near Red Mountain, just north of Johannesburg. The Rand Silver Mine became California’s top silver producer, drawing a second wave of miners, merchants, and roughnecks into the area.

1933: After decades of mining highs and lows, the Randsburg Railway shut down. The mines were slowing, the Depression was deepening, and the trains stopped rolling.

Present Day: Johannesburg is a quiet, unincorporated community with just over 100 residents. The desert has reclaimed much of the noise and bustle, but remnants of its mining past still dot the hills. Old buildings, weathered signs, and mine shafts remind visitors of a time when this tiny town helped fuel California’s economy with gold and silver.

Historical Timeline

1882: The Southern Pacific Railroad set up a siding named “Kramer,” after Moritz Kramer, a German immigrant. At first, it was just a dusty stop in the middle of nowhere, but it didn’t stay quiet for long.

1884: Prospectors discovered gold and copper nearby, which led to the creation of the Kramer Mining District. It didn’t turn into a boomtown, but it put the place on the map.

1898: The Randsburg Railway opened, connecting Kramer Junction with Johannesburg, California. This short rail line helped move minerals from the Rand Mining District to the rest of the world — and gave Kramer a bit of economic steam.

1926: The Herkelrath brothers struck gold in the Kramer Hills, just southeast of town. A little boom followed, complete with a general store and even a library. But the ore wasn’t very good, and water was hard to come by. The rush fizzled out by 1931.

Late 1940s–1950s: The Darr family gave the area a second wind. They bought property at the junction, opened a gas station, and built the Darr Motel. To do this, they moved old duplexes from Edwards Air Force Base and turned them into guest rooms—practical and memorable.

1980s: Kramer Junction became a pioneer in solar power. The Kramer Junction Company built five solar thermal plants (SEGS III through VII) outside town. These mirrors-in-the-desert produced 150 megawatts of electricity and helped put Kramer on the renewable energy map.

2018–2019: Traffic at the Highway 395 and Route 58 intersection had become a headache — long lines, slow trucks, and frequent backups. Caltrans built a new expressway to bypass the worst of it, and by late 2019, the new 13-mile stretch of Route 58 was up and running.

Present Day: Kramer Junction, known by many simply as “Four Corners,” is still a crossroads in the Mojave. The mines are quiet now, but solar panels gleam in the sun, trucks rumble past, and travelers stop for burgers, gas, and a break from the road. It’s a small place with a long history — part of the rhythm of the desert.

Historical Timeline

Pre-1900s: Long before mining arrived, Native American groups like the Kawaiisu and Panamint Shoshone traveled through the area, using seasonal springs and trading routes across the western Mojave Desert.

1905: Amargo rail siding popped up along the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad line. It mostly served borate shipments from nearby mines like Borate and played a minor role in desert freight traffic.

1913: Dr. J.K. Suckow, a homesteader and geologist, drilled a water well near Boron and hit a strange white mineral instead — colemanite, a borate ore. He had stumbled onto one of the richest borate deposits in the world.

1925: A large-scale borax deposit was confirmed in the area. This set off a new development chapter as mining companies raced to secure land and mineral rights. The town of Boron was born around this effort.

1927: The Pacific Coast Borax Company opened a mine and began full-scale operations. A mill and housing followed quickly, forming the roots of what became a tight-knit mining town.

1930s–40s: Boron continued to grow with steady borax production. During World War II, borates were vital in producing glass, steel, and other military materials, making the town strategically important.

1957: U.S. Borax, which had taken over operations, opened the Borax Visitors Center to showcase the mineral’s and industry’s significance to the public.

1961: NASA began testing rocket engines and aircraft nearby at the Boron Federal Aviation Facility, later used by Edwards Air Force Base. The open land and clear skies made it ideal for aerospace development.

1970s–1980s: Boron became famous for having the largest open-pit borax mine in the world—a giant hole in the desert with a global economic impact. Most of the world’s borates came out of this little town.

1990s: Rio Tinto Minerals, an international mining company, acquired U.S. Borax. The site remained one of the company’s most productive and technologically advanced operations.

2000s–2010s: Boron remained focused on mining, but the town faced challenges as automation reduced jobs and younger generations left for opportunities elsewhere.

Present Day: Boron is still home to one of the world’s largest borate mines. The town has a museum, a tight-knit community, and a front-row seat to the blend of industrial history and desert resilience. Mining built everything—from streets to schools—and the desert continues to shape daily life.

Historical Timeline

1776: Spanish missionary Francisco Garcés passed through the area during the Juan Bautista de Anza expedition. He camped at Castle Butte, not far from where California City now stands.

Late 1800s: The land that would eventually become California City was part of the route used by borax freighters. The famous Twenty-Mule Team wagons passed through here, hauling borax to railheads in Mojave.

1944–1959: During and after World War II, the U.S. military used this desert as a training ground known as the Mojave Gunnery Range “C.” Pilots practiced bombing and strafing runs over the wide open landscape.

1958: Nat Mendelsohn, a sociology professor and developer, bought 82,000 acres of Mojave Desert with a bold dream — to build a new city to rival Los Angeles. He laid out roads, parks, and even a man-made lake, hoping it would grow fast.

1960: A post office opened, a small but important step in turning Mendelsohn’s desert dream into a real town.

1965: California City was officially incorporated on December 10. It had fewer than 1,000 residents but plenty of ambition, with big streets laid out for a population that hadn’t arrived yet.

1969: Population growth stalled, and some of the early promises hadn’t been delivered. The Federal Trade Commission stepped in to investigate claims that land sales and marketing had been misleading.

1977: A major settlement forced the development company to repay over 14,000 landowners and build infrastructure that had been promised. At the time, it was the largest FTC case of its kind.

1999: A large correctional facility was built in California City. It was first used for federal inmates and later leased to the state of California as part of a broader prison reform effort.

2013: The state leased the prison for $28.5 million a year to help relieve overcrowding in its correctional system. It brought jobs but also sparked debate about the city’s economic direction.

2016: California City took a step into the cannabis economy by becoming the first in Kern County to allow large-scale commercial marijuana cultivation. It was an effort to create a new revenue stream.

2023: The correctional facility was shut down when the state ended its lease, leaving behind questions about the city’s next economic chapter.

Present Day: California City is still one of the largest cities in California by land area, but its population remains modest. It’s a place of wide streets, open skies, and dreams that haven’t quite caught up with the map. Locals work in industries tied to nearby Edwards Air Force Base, the Mojave Air and Space Port, and growing regional industries.