Trona in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Ballarat

3½ Miles

Photographed by Michael Kindig, May 3, 2009

1. Ballarat Marker

Inscription. Now a ghost town, Ballarat served nearby mining camps from 1897 to 1917. They produced nearly a million in gold. The jail & a few adobe ruins remain. Seldom Seen Slim, it's last resident, was buried in Boothill in 1968. It had a school but no church.

Post Office Spring 1/4 mi south is where the Brier Party, some Jay Hawkers and other 49ers came in their escape from Death Valley in Jan 1850.

On Sunday morn at 3am, March 22, 1908, a car in the Worlds Longest Race, a Thomas Flyer, arrived in Ballarat. It won the New York to Paris race, covering 13,341 miles in 169 days. The car is now in Harrah's Museum in Reno.

Erected 1992 by Death Valley Escape Trail Conf. Trona Chapter.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Industry & Commerce • Notable Places • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1835.

Location. 36° 1.991′ N, 117° 16.907′ W. Marker is in Trona, California, in Inyo County. It is at the intersection of Trona Wildrose Road and Ballarat Road, on the right when traveling north on Trona Wildrose Road. Marker is located immediately

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south of this intersection about 19 miles north of Trona. The ghost town of Ballarat is about 3.5 miles east of here by dirt road that crosses Panamint Dry Lake. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Trona CA 93592, 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 7 other markers are within 17 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Panamint City (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Ballarat (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Ballarat (approx. 3.3 miles away); Reilly Townsite & Anthony Mill (approx. 5.2 miles away); Fish Canyon (approx. 10 miles away); Valley Wells (approx. 14.4 miles away); Barker Ranch (approx. 16.2 miles away).

More about this marker. Within one week after

Photographed by Michael Kindig, May 3, 2009

2. Ballarat Marker

a marker was originally erected by the Death Valley '49ers, it was stolen. A second marker was later erected and it was also removed. Finally someone placed a very large sheet of metal with the words cut into it using a cutting torch. Now a new bronze marker has again been placed with the cooperation of the Slim Princess and Billy Holcomb Chapters and is expected to remain. SOURCE: Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069 35th Anniversary Plaque Book by Phillip Holdaway

Regarding Ballarat. Ballarat started as a watering stop and mail was left here for the miners who worked nearby.

Panamint City (left) and Ballarat (middle and right) Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, May 3, 2009

3. Panamint City (left) and Ballarat (middle and right) Markers

Ballarat School 1900-1910 and Mrs. Bigelow was the Teacher image. Click for full size.

4. Ballarat School 1900-1910 and Mrs. Bigelow was the Teacher

Photograph located in the Eastern California Museum in Independence, Ca on 155 N. Grant Street.

Gravesite of Seldom Seen Slim image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, February 20, 2007

5. Gravesite of Seldom Seen Slim

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, February 20, 2007

6. Gravesite of Seldom Seen Slim

Charles Ferge...."Seldom Seen Slim"....Prospector.... 1889-1968...."Me Lonely? Hell, No!....I'm half coyote and half wild burro!"

Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,190 times since then and 42 times this year. Last updated on November 5, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 25, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 4. submitted on April 27, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 5, 6. submitted on March 31, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.