Death Valley National Park in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Eichbaum Toll Road

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, February 20, 2007

1. Eichbaum Toll Road Marker

Inscription. In 1926 H.W. Eichbaum obtained a franchise for a toll road from Darwin Falls to Stovepipe Wells, the first maintained road into the valley from the west. It changed the area from mining to tourism and brought about the creation of Death Valley National Monument seven years later.

Erected 1971 by California Department of Parks and Recreation and the Death Valley '49ers, Inc. (Marker Number 848.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1926.

Location. 36° 36.326′ N, 117° 8.85′ W. Marker is in Death Valley National Park, California, in Inyo County. It is at the intersection of California Route 190 and Cottonwood Canyon Road, on the right when traveling east on California Route 190. Marker is located just west of Stovepipe Wells Village. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Death Valley CA 92328, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Road To Adventure (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Burned Wagons Point (about 600 feet away); Death Valley’s First Tourist Resort (approx. ¼ mile away); Devil’s Cornfield

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(approx. 4.3 miles away); Old Stovepipe Wells (approx. 5.3 miles away); Transportation Traces (approx. 6 miles away); McLean Spring (approx. 7.1 miles away); An Architectural Heritage (approx. 8.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Death Valley National Park.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Wagon Wheel History (was approx. 6 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by Alvis Hendley

2. Eichbaum Toll Road Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 26, 2020

3. Eichbaum Toll Road Marker

Located near the hotel at Stovepipe Wells.

Original Road Pavement image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 4, 2025

4. Original Road Pavement

Located near the marker, between hotel buildings.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 12, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 679 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on May 1, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 12, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. 3. submitted on October 28, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on April 5, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.