Joshua Tree National Park

Desert heritage and ruins in Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree’s desert landscape contains a rich history of human adaptation, spanning from ancient Native American petroglyphs to the industrial relics of the 20th-century gold rush. This selection features the Keys Desert Queen Ranch and Barker Dam, showcasing early ranching and water management techniques. Industrial heritage is represented by the Wall Street Mill’s stamp machinery and the JT&S Railroad Museum’s vintage equipment. For a glimpse into rugged homesteading, visit the Eagle Cliff Boulder House, a unique shelter built directly into natural rock formations.

Desert Heritage & Ruins — Map

Jarek Tuszyński / CC BY 3.0

A

Keys Desert Queen Ranch

The Keys Ranch is the prime example of early settlement in the Joshua Tree National Park area.

National Park Service inventory / Public domain

B

Wall Street Mill

The Wall Street Mill in Joshua Tree National Park was a complete and operable gold ore crushing mill featuring late-19th century two-stamp…

Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Barker Dam

Barker Dam, also known as the Big Horn Dam, is a dam with water-storage reservoir located in Joshua Tree National Park in California.

D

Petroglyphs

Ancient rock carvings created by Native American tribes, including the Serrano and Cahuilla, found on rock faces near the Barker Dam loop.

E

JT&S Railroad Museum

Outdoor museum featuring full-scale vintage cabooses, engines, and miniature railroad equipment documenting the region's rail history.

F

Eagle Cliff Boulder House

A historic miner's residence built into a natural cave and boulder formation, featuring early 20th-century stone masonry and wooden additions.

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Joshua Tree National Park Essentials Climbing and Peaks Camping and Picnic Sites