Twentynine Palms in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Keys' Desert Queen Ranch
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2014
1. Keys' Desert Queen Ranch Marker
When the mine closed, Bill claimed it and the mill site (which became the ranch home) for his unpaid wages.
Through much resourcefulness and hard work, Bill and his wife Frances met the challenges of living and caring for five children in this remote location. Bill lived at the ranch until his death in 1969.
Erected 2013 by Action 29 Palms. (Marker Number 25.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 34° 8.308′ N, 116° 3.282′ W. Marker is in Twentynine Palms, California, in San Bernardino County. Marker is on Adobe Road south of Gorgonio Drive, on the right when traveling south. Mural and marker cover the north side of the building at this address. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6348 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms CA 92277, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Jack Cones (within shouting distance of this marker); The Desert Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Cattle Days in Hidden Valley
this page online
More about this marker. Mural artist: Art Mortimer, Twentynine Palms, CA
Regarding Keys' Desert Queen Ranch. National Register of Historic Places #75000174.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Oasis of Murals • 29 Palms
Also see . . .
1. Keys Ranch.
In the high desert country that was to become Joshua Tree National Park, rugged individuals tried their luck at cattle ranching, mining, and homesteading. The story of William F. Keys and his family is particularly representative of the hard work and ingenuity it took to settle and prosper in the Mojave Desert. Listed as a National Historic Register Site,(Submitted on January 28, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)the property is located in a remote, rocky canyon in Joshua Tree National Park.
2. Mural detail: Bill Keys
2. Keys Desert Queen Ranch (Wikipedia).
Bill Keys was the area's leading character, and his ranch is a symbol of the resourcefulness of early settlers. Keys pursued both ranching and mining to make a living in the desert. Keys married Francis M. Lawton in 1918, and they had seven children together, three of whom died and were buried at the ranch.(Submitted on January 28, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Mural detail: Frances Keys
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2014
4. Keys' Desert Queen Ranch Marker
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2014
5. Mural Art Credits
This was a mural-in-a-weekend project completed with the help of volunteers from the city of 29 Palms, surrounding areas, as well as other states and countries. Anyone wishing to volunteer was given a brush and section of mural to paint.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2014
6. Keys' Desert Queen Ranch Mural
Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 28, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 244 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 28, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
