Twenty Mule Team Museum – Boron, California
In 1881 the discovery of borax in the Ash Meadows region of Death Valley was discovered by Aaron Winters and his wife, Rosie. Now, they knew from what an old prospector that had stayed a night with them and told them about the interest in borax that they had something great, they just didn’t realize that had they not thought that $20,000 was a fortune (although in those days it was) they could have gotten a lot more money. They sold their claim to William T. Coleman, a prominent San Francisco businessman. The word of the discovery spread quickly and the borax industry in Death Valley was born.
Coleman developed the area, built two plants to handle the product which produced nearly 2 million tons of borax a year. The problem was…how do you get the borax to the nearest railroad spur located 165 miles from Death Valley!
Eighteen mules and two horses were hitched together by single and double trees to form the twenty mule team. These mule trains pulled the wagons loaded with ore the 165 miles, the wagons, when fully loaded, weighed 73,200 pounds or 36 ½ tons! When the mules and horses were added to the wagons the caravan stretched over 100 feet.
Three men were needed to operate the twenty mules’ team. The “Driver” sat on to of the lead wagon, The “Teamster” or “Muleskinner” rode on one of the horses which were the last two in the line. The “Swamper” rode on the rear wagon and was responsible for manning the break on the steep downhill descents. He was also the chief cook and dishwasher on the trip.
The Twenty Mule Teams hauled more than 20 million pounds of borax out of Death Valley between 1883 and 1889.
In the museum you will see items donated by the local residents and others that want the story of the life and times to be remembered. There is a 1930’s kitchen exhibit, beauty shop, Boron Volunteer Fire Department Exhibit; Vietnam Veterans Memorial; Granite Rock and Drill; Ore Bucket all there for you to see. There is also the Santa Fe Railroad Deport; Amargo Theater; Fresno Scrapper; Sack Printer; Two Man Mining Exhibit and Ore Cart.
Hours: Seven days a week from 10 -4. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
Location: 26962 Twenty Mule Team Road, Boron, California 93516
Phone: 760-762-5810
Directions from Barstow: Hwy 58 west 38 miles to the Boron Ave. off ramp. Exit the freeway and turn left onto Boron Ave., follow Boron Ave. approximately one mile to Twenty Mule Team Road. The museum is located on the Southwest corner of Boron Ave. and Twenty Mule Team Rd.
From Mojave: Hwy 58 East 30 miles to the Boron Ave. off ramp; Exit the freeway and turn right onto Boron Ave., follow Boron Ave. approximately one mile to Twenty Mule Team Rd. The museum is on the corner of Boron Ave. and twenty Mule Team Rd.
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