The History of Joshua Tree National Park: A historical, informational, and educational timeline of Joshua Tree National Park

By Thomas Crochetiere

Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in Southern California where two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado come together. It is characterized by rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes with a fascinating variety of plants and animals that make their homes there. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness.

The books in-depth timeline covers the American Indian era, early explorers, cattlemen, miners, homesteaders, the formation of a new national monument, WWII history within the monument, growing pains, modernization, redesignation to a national park, park partners, and the environmental era. Also included are some noteworthy and factually amusing stories, other interesting facts, about the park, things to do, and more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Sep 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781792318641

Book preview

Mission

Acknowledgments

Research material from the Joshua Tree National Park Library; including books, reports, studies and reference material were used to help create this timeline. Information found on NPS.gov was also used. I would like to credit and thank the following resources for their contributions to the writing of this book. Articles published by the Twentynine Palms Historical Society and the Morongo Basin Historical Society as well as writings of Willis Keys, Linda W. Greene, Art Kidwell, Jeff Ohlfs, David Glasgow, and Joseph W. Zarki were used to verify and confirm some of the parks history.

I would also like to give thanks to Action 29 Palms, the Twentynine Palms Historical Society, photographer Margie Trandem, JTNPA, and the NPS for use of their photos and murals to help illustrate the parks history in this book.

My thanks also go out to Melanie Spoo, Park Ranger - Museum Curator for JTNP, Marian L. Huff Trembly, Director of Business Operations for JTNPA, Karin Messaros, Park Ranger - Management Assistant for JTNP, and to Sandra Crochetiere (my wife) for their contributions to my writings.



Introduction

Joshua Tree National Park has two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave across the northern part and the Colorado (part of the Sonoran Desert) along the southern part. The Joshua tree is the iconic symbol of the park, as are the rock and boulder formations (most of which are monzogranite and pinto gneiss). The park also has a rich cultural history. Joshua Tree National Park can seem unwelcoming, even brutal during the heat of summer, when in fact, it is delicate and extremely fragile.

Joshua Tree National Park encompasses some of the most interesting geologic displays found in California’s deserts. The park welcomes climbers and bouldering enthusiasts and is truly a world-class climbing destination. Joshua Tree has desert oases, American Indian petroglyphs, historic mines and mills, historic ranch’s and equipment, birding, and miles of hiking and backpacking trails; ranging from short walks and nature trails to more moderate hikes to much more challenging hikes. Road-biking is becoming more and more popular and camping has always been a favorite. Mountain bikes and 4-wheel-drive vehicles are welcome on established dirt roads as is horseback riding on designated equestrian trails. Boasting some of the darkest nights in Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park offers many visitors the chance to admire the Milky Way for the first time in their lives.

This is arguably the most comprehensive and thorough historical timeline of Joshua Tree National Park to date. Although some of the book contents are folklore, they are believed to be as true and accurate as possible. Every effort was made to verify the accuracy of the history; however, the author found some conflicting statements as to the exact year some of the following history occurred.











Shadow of a Joshua tree against a granite rock; JTNPA photo

Early Inhabitants

5000 BC The first archeological evidence of the area was found in the southern half (Colorado Desert portion; part of the larger Sonoran Desert) of present-day Joshua Tree National Park. Projectile points (spear and arrow heads) found there date back 4 to 8 thousand years ago. These artifacts were left behind from the period of the Pinto Culture who were believed to be the first human inhabitants of the area.

1500s AD Following the Pinto Culture, the Serrano and Chemeheuvi Indians inhabited the northern half (Mojave Desert portion; also known as the high desert) of present-day Joshua Tree National Park. The Cahuilla Indians inhabited the southern half (also known as the low desert). The Mohave Indians also traveled throughout the area. Though mostly seasonal, the Serrano and later the Chemeheuvi settled at the Oasis of Mara in present-day Twentynine Palms. The Serrano called the oasis Mara, loosely translated the place of little springs and much grass. (read more about oases on page 77)



Oasis of Mara; photo courtesy of Twentynine Palms Historical Society

Early Explorers

1775 Spanish explorers were the first white men (non-native people) to travel through the Mojave Desert.

1844 When John C. Fremont of the U.S Army Corps of Topographical Engineers traveled into the Mojave Desert, he encountered a Joshua tree. He described it as the most repulsive tree in the vegetable kingdom.

1849 William Lewis Manly was part of a group of gold seekers traveling into California. While following an inaccurate map, they became lost in present-day Death Valley. In a later memoir of Manly, he referred to the Joshua tree as a brave little tree to live in such barren country.

1850 Legend has it that the name Joshua tree was given by a group of Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert. The tree's unique shape reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer. (read more about Joshua trees on page 84)



Photo by Thomas Crochetiere

1850s Pauline Weaver (some accounts list his name as Paulino Weaver) while following a trail westward from the Colorado River, established a road that passed by the Oasis of Mara. Weaver was an Army Scout, trapper, cattleman, and gold-seeker. The road would become known as Weaver Road then Twentynine Palms Road (later to become the Twentynine Palms Highway; designated SR62 in 1964).

1855 Deputy U.S. Surveyor Henry Washington under contract to establish the San Bernardino baseline for the new state of California surveyed the area in and around Twentynine Palms, including the Oasis of Mara which contained several California fan palms (Washingtonia filifera palm trees). Stories have been passed down that there were 29 palm trees there at the time and it is believed this is how Twentynine Palms would eventually get its name.



Early Life at the Oasis of Mara

by Ron Croci and Robert Caughlan III;

courtesy of Action 29 Palms, Twentynine Palms, California, USA

1856 Surveyor Alex P. Green visited the Twentynine Palms area and the Oasis of Mara. In his journal, he noted there are a number of fine springs and many palm trees at the oasis; and referred to it by the name Palm Springs.

1800’s

1847 As a result of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), California became part of the United States. After the discovery of gold in 1848, California became the 31st state on September 9, 1850.

1853 San Bernardino County was created from parts of Los Angeles, San Diego and Mariposa Counties.