Twentynine Palms in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Flash Flood

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2014

1. Flash Flood Marker

Inscription. Originating in 49 Palms Canyon in the mountains above 29 Palms during desert thunderstorms flash floods would race down the canyon, onto the highway and through the downtown area, flooding businesses and residences.

The Flood Control Channel, completed in 1969 and running just north of this mural, carries rainwater away from the city and prevents the dramatic flood scenes that are now just memories.

Erected 1998 by Action 29 Palms. (Marker Number 13.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1969.

Location. 34° 8.419′ N, 116° 3.284′ W. Marker is in Twentynine Palms, California, in San Bernardino County. Marker is on Buena Vista Drive just west of Adobe Road, on the left when traveling west. Mural and marker cover the north side of the building at this address. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6244 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. Good Times at Smith's Ranch (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cattle Days in Hidden Valley (about 400 feet away); Jack Cones (about 500 feet away); Keys' Desert Queen Ranch (about 700 feet away);

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The Desert Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Oasis of Mara (approx. 0.4 miles away); Minerva Hamilton Hoyt (approx. 1.3 miles away); Champion of the Desert (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Twentynine Palms.

More about this marker. Mural artist: Art Mortimer of Twentynine Palms, CA

Regarding Flash Flood. Before construction of the flood control channel in 1969 by the County of San Bernardino with the assistance of local engineer Bill Hatch, raging flash floods used to flow down from 29 Palms Canyon in what is now Joshua Tree National Park. The water would wash out the main road (now 29 Palms Highway), rushing east around Donnell Hill and into the center of town.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Oasis of Murals • 29 Palms

Also see . . . Mojave Flash Flood Kills Three. "We have some city streets that run through the flood control channels," Jim Thompson, Battalion Chief of the Twentynine Palms Fire Department, told CBS News. "It's like a big dip in the

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2014

2. Flash Flood Marker

road and for the most part 364 days of the year these flood control channels are dry, until something like this happens. (Submitted on January 28, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Flash Flood Mural detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2014

3. Flash Flood Mural detail

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2014

4. Flash Flood Mural detail

Flash Flood Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2014

5. Flash Flood Mural

Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 28, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 285 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 28, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.