Barstow - The Transportation Hub of the Mojave Desert
Barstow's roots also lie in the rich mining history of the Mojave Desert. The large flow of miners coming to Calico and Daggett following the discovery of Silver in the 1860s led to the call for railroads to be constructed to transport goods and people. The Santa Fe Railroad was built in 1888 and ran through what is now Barstow. Railroad magnate William Barstow Strong, who owned the Santa Fe Railroad, was the man for from whom the city got its name.
As the 20th century advanced, Calico and Daggett diminished while Barstow became a busy rail center and a jumping off place for immigrants entering the state on the now famous US Route 66. Much of Barstow's economy depends on transportation. With Interstates 15 and 40, and highways 58 and 247 all converging in Barstow, the city is a major transportation corridor with more than 60 million people in 19 million vehicles traveling through Barstow each year.
Modern and historic facilities are still available along Barstow's Main Street, the original Route 66. Just off Main Street, at First Street, travelers can drive over an old iron bridge that leads to the railroad depot once the site of the historic Harvey House, originally opened in 1911. The Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum can be found at Harvey House in Barstow. The Museum displays a collection of historic photographs and artifacts related to Route 66 and the Mojave Desert Communities.
Rainbow Basin, Mojave National Preserve, Black Canyon and Inscription Canyon, and Afton Canyon, located within easy drive of Barstow, are all part of the area's scenic beauty worth exploring. Stop in at the Desert Discovery Center and check out the second largest space rock ever found in the United States, The Old Woman Springs Meteorite, and don't forget to come and be a part of Barstow's Classic Poker Run for charity.
Source: City of Barstow and Wikipedia Encyclopedia
