| Page Views: 1,129 Last Visit to Barstow: September, 2007 | Barstow by Yaqui - last update: Dec 14, 2007 |
Home of Harvey House, Route 66, and Trains | Wave at the trains, they waved back...yay! |
Since I could drive, Barstow was a much needed to stop on the way to Vegas. Back then traffic was not bad at all if anything it was very few vehicles that ventured the 58 or 395 to get to Interstate 15. Now days, it’s practically bumper to bumper going to and from.
I hope Barstow has profited from the tourist passing through this very historical town and probably not really knowing what they are missing if they don’t now days. Route 66 brought many tourists this way and now many come to experience those past memories of a bygone era. Heck, I remember the funky tourist attractions of teepees, giant dinosaurs, and all those so called cheesy trinkets shops that lured many travelers along the way. I loved them and still do! My dad was a very fun, loving father who was my best friend too. He loved to explore, but when it came to getting us to our destination on a specific day, he was determined. Yet, my mother always took pity on our puppy dog frowns when something caught our eye along our yearly travels, she’d use the excuse we all need to make a Jane stop. Ha, my dad was sharp when it came to this tactics, but his reasoning would soften for making the stop. Of course by the time he did give in we were miles down the road and he had to turn around all awhile sounding like Ricky Ricardo….lol! We’d all scoot down on our seats giggling every time. |
| See the buildings once between the tracks? |
|  | Barstow started as a rail road stop called Calico Junction along the Southern Pacific Railroad from Mojave to Daggett around 1880’s. Calico mountains brought many miners for a rich deposit of silver and borax. Twenty mules team were used to haul just the ore from Daggett to Calico. Around 1888 the town was named after the president William Barstow Strong not soon after the Santa Fe line arrived.
Unfortunately the silver mines were becoming a bust around 1896. Yet, borax was still lucrative in the millions well into 1902. While Calico and Daggett was become ghost towns, Barstow grew with having a very busy prosperous railhead. Then Route 66 also brought many travelers either from passing through or capturing those searching for promise of work and a home. Do any of you remember either reading the book or seeing the movie adaptation “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck? I do and they are both one of my favorites. It will remind you with some of the hardships the Oakies endured from the dust bowl era. My mom does because she grew up in Oklahoma during those difficult times. It has been said John Steinbeck stayed in Barstow a day while passing through writing this novel. |
Harvey Girls Barstow is home to one of the famed Harvey House that was rebuilt in 1911 after the original 1887 building burned down in 1902. It still stands along the rail road to the testament of a once bygone era providing passengers with rest, food, and company. They almost lost this building, but some frisky saviors saw fit to save her and she is truly a beautiful building. It is being lovingly restored and utilized by the city of Barstow and houses their chamber of commerce, Route 66 Museum and the Western America Railroad Museum.
Do you remember Judy Garland “The Harvey Girls”? I do and grew listening to all the greats of the musical era.
"On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe"
~Sung by Judy Garland~
~Music by Harry Warren~
~Lyrics by Johnny Mercer~ | | | Hands off chicky..that's my MAN!........lol |
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> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Lots to do and see here." | | Cons: | "Please check the weather and many homeless in the old downtown area, but kept to themselves." | | In A Nutshell: | "It is town filled with many layers of history." |
Yaqui's Barstow Travel Tips
 Yaqui's Barstow Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for Yaqui about Barstow | | | | |
nickandchris Mon Aug 24, 2009 12:28 UTC
Thanks for visiting Ardtoe. This is a great page, shame about your experience in the restaurant. You were rght to make a tip of it. Those murals are brilliant! | BruceDunning Wed Aug 19, 2009 22:50 UTC
You do such a great job of detail discussion in the comments and the pictures accentuate the tips. Rt 66 was good in the old days. We have Harvey House in KC and I went to one in Dodge City recently. He got around. | wabIV Wed Jul 15, 2009 14:59 UTC
A pleasant surprise to find a page on Barstow. :-) I explored the desert, mountains and Ft. Irwin when my father was stationed there with the Army. Calico Ghost Town was my favorite. | LoriPori Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:07 UTC
Wow! we might just stop here next time instead of just driving through. Love to stay at the Route 66 Motel and to see those Murals aaaand a real live drive-in movie. WooHoo! Fun page Dee! |
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