Near Jacumba in Imperial County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Desert Tower

Photographed by Adam Margolis, February 10, 2013

1. Desert Tower Marker

Inscription. Bert Vaughn of Jacumba built the stone tower in 1922-23 to commemorate the pioneers and road and railroad builders who opened the area. In the 1930s W.T. Ratcliffe carved the stone animal figures which lurk in the rocks surrounding the tower, creating a fantasy world of surprise and strange beauty. This remarkable sculptural assemblage is one of California's exceptional folk art environments.

Erected 1984 by State Department of Parks and Recreation in, Imperial Valley Pioneer and Squibob Chapter, E Clampus Vitus. (Marker Number 939.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists.

Location. 32° 39.543′ N, 116° 5.993′ W. Marker is near Jacumba, California, in Imperial County. It can be reached from In-Ko-Pah Park Road west of Interstate 8. Take the In-Ko-Pah Park Road exit off of Interstate 8 and follow it north until the end. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 In-Ko-Pah Park Road, Jacumba CA 91934, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Imperial Valley.

It is also in the American Southwest.

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

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5 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mountain Springs Station Site (a few steps from this marker); Imperial Valley Desert Museum (approx. 7.7 miles away); Geoglyphs (approx. 7.7 miles away); The Impossible Railroad (approx. 9.2 miles away); De Anza Overlook (approx. 11.8 miles away).

More about this marker. This marker is near the border of San Diego and Imperial Counties. The marker and tower are located in Imperial County and the town is located in San Diego County.

This is one of nearly a dozen California Historical Landmarks with the number 939 — Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments (Thematic).