Ridgecrest in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake

AIAA Historic Aerospace Site

China Lake Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 15, 2019

1. China Lake Marker

Inscription.
China Lake is one of the nation’s premier weapons laboratories. Established in 1943, China Lake supports Naval aviation and warfighter requirements, and will continue to arm the Fleet into the future. The Station conceived of and developed rockets during WWII; non-nuclear components for the first atomic bomb; Sidewinder, Shrike, and Walleye missiles; and the Polaris concept. China Lake developed NOTSNIK in 1958 and vital components for the Mars Lander in 2004. The Station, a world leader in aircraft weapons integration, testing, and electronic warfare, developed 75% of the air-launched weapons used during Vietnam and jointly developed 80% of those used during Iraqi Freedom.

Erected 2006 by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Science & Medicine • War, 1st Iraq & Desert Storm • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the AIAA Historic Aerospace Sites series list.

Location. 35° 37.811′ N, 117° 40.08′ W. Marker is in Ridgecrest, California, in Kern

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County. It is on Las Flores Avenue east of China Lake Boulevard, on the left when traveling east. Located at China Lake Museum, open Tue-Sat 10-4. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 130 E Las Flores Avenue, Ridgecrest CA 93555, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

in the Mojave Desert,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

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 6 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: F-18A Hornet (a few steps from this marker); MK IV Special Weapon (within shouting distance of this marker); F11 F-1F "Super Tiger" (within shouting distance of this marker); North American T-39D Sabreliner (within shouting distance of this marker); "Siding 16" (approx. 8.2 miles away); Indian

2. China Lake Marker

Wells (approx. 11.8 miles away).

More about this marker. The China Lake Museum, and this marker, were originally located at nearby Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. They have been moved to this location in town for easier public access, and to allow room for expansion. The museum is located next to the Maturango Museum.

Also see . . .
1. China Lake Museum. (Submitted on February 19, 2020.)
2. Maturango Museum. History of the Upper Mojave Desert. (Submitted on February 19, 2020.)

China Lake Museum image. Click for full size.

3. China Lake Museum

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 28, 2025

4. China Lake Marker

New marker replaced the stolen plaque.

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 28, 2025

5. China Lake Marker

The new plaque is kept inside the museum.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 899 times since then and 88 times this year. Last updated on March 9, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 19, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4, 5. submitted on May 3, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.