Ryan Mining Camp
In 2013, I joined a Searles Valley Historical Society field trip to see the well-preserved borax mining camp of Ryan in Death Valley. Having never been in the mining camp before, I jumped at the chance to visit.
Coso Ghost Camp
We were lucky enough to be invited to China Lake Naval Weapon Center to do some volunteer restoration work on the historic Coso ghost town site. After work, we checked out several other sites and spent the night on base. We had a fantastic time!
Willis Well Petroglyphs
Willis Well is an interesting place. For centuries, Native Americans camped in the spring (really just a seep). Numerous Desert Archaic petroglyphs cover the boulders near the spring. They are mostly abstract designs. Their meanings were lost in antiquity.
Rosalie (Valley Wells)
Just off Interstate 15, in the shadow of Clark Mountain, lie the scattered ruins of Rosalie, also known as Valley Wells.
Rosalie's tale began in 1898 when the Ivanpah Smelting Company of Los Angeles recognized the potential of nearby copper deposits. They sank two wells at a site
Lemoigne's Wagon
Delamar Ghost Town
The mining camp of Delamar started out as a small tent camp similar to Helene, just a few miles to the north and only a few months later. It was centered around the April Fool, Monitor, Gold Cup, Hog Pen, and a few other small mines. Captain Joseph De Lamar