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Dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the scientific, historical and cultural heritage of the Mojave Desert.
About the
Mojave River Valley Museum
The Mojave River Valley Museum is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the scientific,
historical and cultural heritage of the Mojave River Valley.
Through the efforts of a group of interested residents, the Museum was founded in 1964 and established as
a nonprofit corporation in 1973. Donations of money, time and labor have resulted in the present Museum
facility located at the corner of Barstow Road and Virginia Way.
The Museum continues to operate through the efforts of its members and by donations from the public.
Mark Your Calendars!
Mojave River Valley
Museum Presents the 51st Annual
BBQ and Open House
Theme: From
Grandpa to Grandchildren,
Families visiting their
Mojave Desert Heritage
At the Mojave River Valley
Museum and Grounds
Barstow Rd & Virginia
Way, Barstow, Ca.
May 13, 2017
from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Click here for more info
General Meeting
Wednesday, May 31 at 7 pm
Randal Massaro, Wild Animal Activist
Our Coyotes
Randal Massaro is coming back to talk
to us, this time to discuss the state of our coyotes
in the west, such as whats being done to
them and how they are surviving.
What are plans for and against them?
For example, which state had an open coyote
season on coyotes a couple of years ago?
When Randy was here in January he
spoke to us on the Plight and Pleasures of Wild
Horses in the West. He drew a full house and
the audience seemed to appreciate the information,
asking many questions and having a
lively discussion. Or was it a debate?
This is an informational presentation,
not intended to be a controversial one. Our
museum is not so-called political, but most
members and attendees appreciate being informed.
If there are differences of opinion,
thats finethis is America!
The Museum programs are always free,
everyone is welcome, and refreshments will be
served.
If anyone wishes to join us and Randy
before the meeting for a no-host dinner at
Rositas Restaurant on West Main, come about
5:30 pm
Bring your friends and introduce them
to your museum..
Exhibits & Archives:
The Museum houses a series of displays and exhibits that portray the history of the Mojave
River Valley from the arrival of Father Garces in 1776 on through pathfinders, pioneers, miners,
railroads and the present space program.
Our archive of local area newspapers dates back to 1911 and our photo collection contains
over 20,000 photos.
Location & Directions:
We are located in Barstow at 270 E. Virginia Way at the intersection of Barstow Road and
Virginia Way. Exit I-15 at Barstow Road, go north two blocks then turn left.
Click here for a map
Open everyday except Christmas from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is always free.
Preservation:
Join us in helping to preserve the heritage of the desert. Your membership and participation
are always welcome.
Membership:
We have four levels of membership (see Membership Application). Membership benefits
include receiving Desert Tailings, (our monthly newsletter,) participation in all field trips, and a 10%
discount in our bookstore.
Membership Application
General Monthly Meetings
Our General Meetings are at 7:00 pm at the Museum (270 E. Virginia Way) on the last
Wednesday of each month except:
-
July and August: Meetings are cancelled due to our hot summers.
November: Meeting is one week earlier than usual due to Thanksgiving.
December: Meeting is cancelled due to the Christmas Holiday.
*****
Special Section
Of Mines and Mules: A History of Daggett
The quiet, unassuming town of Daggett, California, nestled in the desert south of the Calico Mountains near Barstow, has a big history to tell. From silver rushes to borate refining, Daggetts economy depended on mining. While historians disagree about when the former boom town was first settled, there is no doubt that its real beginning came in 1882 with the arrival of the railroad. For decades, the cluster of buildings with cottonwood and pepper trees would be a sight for the sore eyes of travelers crossing the inhospitable desert.
All that Remains: Daggetts Borate Archaeology
Along the side of Route 66 east of Barstow, California sits the little town of Daggett. This settlement flourished for a few decades starting in the 1880s before losing its train station to Barstow in the early 1900s. During its heyday, Daggett boasted an active borate mining industry unsurpassed in the Mojave Desert. Visitors today can still find evidence of Daggetts mining past. Archaeologists have recently conducted studies of the large mill site of the American Borax Company, recording what remains. More than 130 years later, information is still coming to light on this important period in southern Californias heritage.
Barstow, CA 92311
760-256-5452
e-mail:
mrvmuseum@gmail.com
Open everyday except Christmas from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is always free.
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Annual Mini-BBQ
Demonstrations
Educational lectures
Field trips