Some folks called it hell.
.jpg "Furnace Creek Inn Death Valley NP CA")
Furnace Creek Inn
Originally built as a working ranch in the 1880s it is now a complete resort complex including 224 guest units, three restaurants, a saloon, a general store, an airstrip, gift shops, gas station, post office, three campgrounds, horse rides, carriage rides, golf course, tennis courts and swimming pool. This is as close as I got to Death Valley National Park Furnace Creek. Way too swanky for my budget and a major difference to the lifestyle at Harmony Borax Works where we’d just visited.
.jpg "Old locomotive Furnace Creek Death Valley NP CA")
Old locomotive
After the closure of borax mines in Death Valley the Pacific Coast Borax Company from 20 Mule Team fame encouraged tourists to use their narrow gauge railway to visit Death Valley. The Furnace Creek Inn was completed in 1927 but the railroad closed in 1930 because tourists preferred the freedom of driving their own cars.
.jpg "Inside Borax museum Furnace Creek Death Valley NP CA")
Inside Borax Museum
In 1926, the company promoted the idea of Death Valley becoming a national park to the director of the National Park Service Stephen Mather. But because of his prior employment with the borax company and to avoid favoritism he suggested media support and thus the successful radio program Death Valley Days was created. Finally in 1933, President Hoover created Death Valley National Monument and in 1994 Congress designated it as a National Park.
.jpg "Old stagecoach Furnace Creek Death Valley NP CA")
Old stage coach
Springs in the Amargosa Range created a natural oasis at Furnace Creek which according to a US Geologic Survey report has subsequently dwindled due to diversion of this water to support the developed area. Who’s surprised about that, it’s a damn desert.
.jpg "Old grinding mill Furnace Creek Death Valley NP CA")
Old grinding mill
Furnace Creek has the distinction of holding the record for the highest ever recorded temperature in the United States reaching 134 °F (57 °C) on July 10, 1913. Elevation is 190 feet (58 meters) below sea level. No wonder this place gets called hell. But the 2000 census only showed the population as 31.
Furnace Creek InnOriginally built as a working ranch in the 1880s it is now a complete resort complex including 224 guest units, three restaurants, a saloon, a general store, an airstrip, gift shops, gas station, post office, three campgrounds, horse rides, carriage rides, golf course, tennis courts and swimming pool. This is as close as I got to Death Valley National Park Furnace Creek. Way too swanky for my budget and a major difference to the lifestyle at Harmony Borax Works where we’d just visited.
Old locomotiveAfter the closure of borax mines in Death Valley the Pacific Coast Borax Company from 20 Mule Team fame encouraged tourists to use their narrow gauge railway to visit Death Valley. The Furnace Creek Inn was completed in 1927 but the railroad closed in 1930 because tourists preferred the freedom of driving their own cars.
Inside Borax MuseumIn 1926, the company promoted the idea of Death Valley becoming a national park to the director of the National Park Service Stephen Mather. But because of his prior employment with the borax company and to avoid favoritism he suggested media support and thus the successful radio program Death Valley Days was created. Finally in 1933, President Hoover created Death Valley National Monument and in 1994 Congress designated it as a National Park.
Old stage coachSprings in the Amargosa Range created a natural oasis at Furnace Creek which according to a US Geologic Survey report has subsequently dwindled due to diversion of this water to support the developed area. Who’s surprised about that, it’s a damn desert.
Old grinding millFurnace Creek has the distinction of holding the record for the highest ever recorded temperature in the United States reaching 134 °F (57 °C) on July 10, 1913. Elevation is 190 feet (58 meters) below sea level. No wonder this place gets called hell. But the 2000 census only showed the population as 31.
.jpg "Furnace Creek Inn Death Valley NP CA")
Furnace Creek Inn, an oasis in the Funeral MountainsThe visitor center was very interesting, so much so that I got sidetracked and didn’t take any pictures. But I picked up a Junior Ranger book. Then we went on a guided Ranger walk into Natural Bridge Canyon.
.jpg "Harmony Borax Works Death Valley NP CA")
.jpg "Salt deposits Harmony Borax Works Death Valley NP CA")
.jpg "20 Mule Team wagon Harmony Borax Works Death Valley NP CA")
.jpg "Interp sign for 20 Mule Team wagon Harmony Borax Works Death Valley NP CA")
The giant wheels were protected with steel tires eight inches wide and an inch thick which had to be replaced regularly. Two men rode the wagons, driver and swamper, and traveled 15 to 17 miles (24 to 27 km) a day. Waterholes were 50 miles (80 km) apart with dusty, rocky, sandy ruts for roads in between..jpg "Boiler at refinery Harmony Borax Works Death Valley NP CA")
.jpg "Interp sign at Harmony Borax Works Death Valley NP CA")
Borax has long been used for every kind of household cleaning from windows to tile grout. It is also a component of cosmetics, insecticide, glass, pottery and enamel glazes. It is used as a food additive or preservative in some countries yet is banned in the US..jpg "On the road Death Valley NP CA")
Some of the workers from Harmony Borax Works lived in nearby .jpg "Bird tracks on sand Death Valley NP CA")
.jpg "Salt Creek trail Death Valley NP CA")
.jpg "Pickleweed Salt Creek trail Death Valley NP CA")
.jpg "Salt Creek Death Valley NP CA")
.jpg "Interp sign for Salt Creek Pupfish Death Valley NP CA")
More than 10,000 years ago pupfish lived in streams that fed freshwater Lake Manly which filled the bottom of Death Valley. As the climate became more arid the lakes dried up leaving the pupfish stranded in permanent waterholes scattered across the desert. They can withstand temperatures from near freezing to 111 F (43.88 C)..jpg "Salt Creek Death Valley NP CA")
I didn’t see any pupfish..jpg "View from Salt Creek trail Death Valley NP CA")
.jpg "View from Salt Creek trail Death Valley NP CA")