History & Culture

 

Park History

Joshua Tree was designated a national monument in 1936 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and accorded national park status in 1994. Find out more about park history in this section.

People

Human history in the Joshua Tree region stretches back over 10,000 years. In the people section, find out about the different cultures that have called this area home, as well as a few prominent individuals in our history.

Stories

Explore a few of the stories of colorful figures from Joshua Tree's past in this section.

Collections

Joshua Tree National Park houses more than 241,000 objects in its museum collections. The park also protects more than 838 documented archeological sites, 160 historic structures, and 5 cultural landscapes.

Online Exhibits

Explore the online exhibit "People of the Desert" and discover the colorful stories found in Joshua Tree National Park's museum collections.