Trona Off The Beaten Path Tips by Yaqui

Valley Wells California Historical Marker No.443

VALLEY WELLS
The plaque reads:
In this area, several groups of midwestern emigrants who had escaped from the hazards and privations in Death Valley in 1849 sought to secure water from Searles Lake. When they discovered its salt nature they turned north and westward in despair and with travail crossed the Argus and other mountains to reach settlements of central and southern California.

Valley Wells State Registered Landmark No. 443
Marker Placed by California Centennials Commission
Base Furnished by Death Valley 49ers. Inc.
Dedicated December 3, 1949

This Historical Monument was placed and dedicated by the Trona Lions Club, in June 1982.

Located on Trona Wildrose Rd at Valley Wells Rd, 5.5 mi NE of Trona (Highway 178)

John & Dennis Seales' Wagon Route 1873-1895 Marker

Although, this is not a offical state historical marker, it is a marker put here for those to learn of the local history. So make sure to take some time and read such wonderful treasures of information. This one tells the history of the Borax Wagon routes used by the Searles' Brothers who drove the wagons.

This is located just at the entrance of the Trona Pinnacles Park off of Highway 178.

It reads:
John & Dennis Seales' Wagon Route
1873-1895
This monument commemorates two wagon routes used by the Searles Brothers to haul Borax from their plant on Borax Lake(now Searles Lake) to the railhead at Mojave. The souther route traveled west of the Trona Pinnacles to Searles freight STation at Garden City, this is the present route of the Trona Railway which connects with the Union Pacific at Seales Station, Garden City was a virtual Oasis, providing food and shelter for the teamster and a barn to accommodating 100 mules. The Western route went through Salt Wells Canyon (Poison Canyon) to a dry station one mile from the head of the canyon and on to Garden City where both routes joined, it then continued through Garlock and connected with the road to Mojave.

Plaque placed by Billy Holcomb Chapter the Ancient and Honorable Oder of the E Clampus Vitus in cooperation with the Searles Valley Historical Society May 7, 2000

Billy Holcomb Plaques No. 97

Trona Mural

I spotted this Mural right away on a building from the main highway and its on the adjacent wall of the Guest House Museum on Main Street. I thought it was wonderful because it depicts the burdens of beast and man. What a wonderful history it tells! It faces highway 178 so you may see it if your passing by!

John & Dennis Searles' from 1873-1895 used to haul Borax from their plant from the Borax lake, now Searles Lake, to and from the railhead in Garden City, which eventually ended up in Mojave via the Union Pacific.

Website: http://www.desertusa.com/Cities/ca/trona.html