Barstow's roots also lie in the rich mining history of the Mojave Desert following the discovery of gold and silver in the Owens Valley and in mountains to the east in the 1860s and 1870s.

More than 2,000 years ago, the Mojave Desert had been occupied by Indian tribes who lived beside the immense lakes that covered most of the Mojave. In the late 1800s, the Barstow area became a …

Dec 13, 2025 · It was founded in 1880 during a silver-mining rush and was first called Fishpond and then Waterman Junction. It was renamed in 1886 to honor William Barstow Strong, then president of the …

Discover the fascinating history of Barstow, California, from its beginnings as a railroad junction to its growth as a transportation hub and tourist destination.

Oct 30, 2025 · Barstow, California, from the 1870s through the present, with all key details preserved and arranged chronologically: Barstow stands today at the center of the Mojave Desert’s long story …

Indian tribes flourished in this environment from at least 300 B.C. until much of the water dissipated in the 1500s. There were still Indians living in the Barstow area, separated into clans, when the …

Barstow, California, was founded in 1888 when the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad arrived. Located on the Mojave River, the area had already become a thriving mining center when silver was …

Barstow is a Mojave Desert city in San Bernardino County, California, historically defined by railroads, Route 66, the Mojave River corridor, and its long-standing role as a regional transportation and …

Dec 12, 2024 · In 1886, the town changed its name once more, this time officially, when it was requested that their post office be named Barstow. With the silver rush ending, neighboring Calico …

In July of 1925 a “grand opening” event was held for the “newly rebuilt city” of Barstow along its current main street and path of Route 66. Barstow, itself, however, would not incorporate as a city until 1947.