Mining and ranching changed how people used the land around Joshua Tree. The California Gold Rush and successful cattle ranching made the southwest deserts more appealing. Beginning in the 1870s, gold miners came to the rocky hills around Twentynine Palms, while ranchers used the highlands for spring grazing and built water catchments called “tanks” to capture water for the cattle.
The arrival of new groups deeply impacted Native American communities, cutting them off from their traditional food resources, water sources, and place-based culture. Pressured to leave traditional collecting and travel areas for nearby designated reservation lands, Serrano, Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, and Mojave communities lost access to traditional resources outside of these designated areas. Some tribal members adapted by working for early prospectors or were hired as farm hands and cowboys.
Today, nearly 300 historic mines are located in the park. Important ranching locations like Quail Springs, Hidden Valley, and Barker Dam are popular sites for visitors. Indigenous footpaths became wagon tracks and are now current roads.
Ranching
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BrandJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 35978
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Shea driving cattleJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 531
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Notice of Water AppropriationJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 24757
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Willow HoleNational Park Service photograph
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ShotgunJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 2622
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Bill McHaney in front of cabinJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 40127, Box 3
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Looking toward the site todayNational Park Service photograph
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Joe Pachecco and familyJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 20575, image #1648
Mining
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Desert Queen MineJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 20575 #2407
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Location Notice (Mining Claim) and JarJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 29981
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Central Wheel Hub, Pinto Wye ArrastraJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 35966
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Documenting arrastra before preservationNational Park Service photograph
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Pinto Wye Arrastra after preservationNational Park Service photograph
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Pinto Wye Arrastra HAER drawingHistoric American Engineering Record, HAER CAL,36-TNPAL.V,4- (sheet 1 of 2)
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Shoe StampDesert Queen Ranch Collection
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Wall Street MillNational Park Service photograph
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Wall Street Gold Mill Process DrawingHistoric American Engineering Record, HAER CAL,36-TNPAL.V,2- (sheet 8 of 9)
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Stamp Battery Axonometric DrawingHistoric American Engineering Record, HAER CAL,36-TNPAL.V,2- (sheet 9 of 9)
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Bill Keys Cleaning Up after Mill RunHistoric American Engineering Record, HAER CAL,36-TNPAL.V,2--36
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Wall Street Gold Mill, 1991Historic American Engineering Record, HAER CAL,36-TNPAL.V,2--39 (CT)
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Coffee TinJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 31261
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Chester Pinkham and unidentified manJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 20575 #1620
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Freight Wagons at Lost Horse WellsJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 20575 #1618
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Freighting from Banning to Dale MineJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 20575 #1625
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Keys Ore HaulJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 40127
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Game BoardJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 8754
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Gold Ore SampleJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 1325
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Photograph of the Ivanhoe Mine AreaJoshua Tree National Park, JOTR 20575, #2048
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View from the Lost Horse MineNational Park Service photograph
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Panorama from top of Intersection RockNational Park Service photograph
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View towards Malapai HillNational Park Service Photograph
Last updated: August 10, 2023