Near Ridgecrest in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Coso Rock Art District
Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons
| | National Historic Landmark | |
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 8, 2018
1. Coso Rock Art District Marker
This District possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America.
The Coso Rock Art District contains the largest concentration of unaltered prehistoric petroglyphs and associated sites in North America. Occupation and use of the site began as early as the end of the last Ice Age and continued until the late 19th century.
Erected 2001 by National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Arts, Letters, Music • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list.
Location. 35° 59.664′ N, 117° 36.586′ W. Marker is near Ridgecrest, California, in Inyo County. It can be reached from China Lake Boulevard. Located in China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, not open to the public. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ridgecrest CA 93555, 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 Mexicos Alta California.
More about this marker. Guided tours with Maturango Museum ended due to Covid-19, followed by floods, then three major earthquakes. Tours might resume in the future.
Also see . . .
this page online
Additional keywords. China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, Ridgecrest, Maturango Museum, Fossil Falls,
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 8, 2018
2. Coso Rock Art District Marker
Located along the trail from the parking lot to the canyon.
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 8, 2018
5. Original Marker - 1964
This site possesses exceptional value in commemorating and illustrating the history of the United States.
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 8, 2018
6. Old Marker
Mounted on a rock that was relocated from the nearby canyon.
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 8, 2018
7. Coso Rock Art
It is believed that a person drawn upside-down represents someone who has gone to the spirit world.
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 8, 2018
8. Coso Rock Art
Hunting bighorn sheep with bow & arrow.
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 8, 2018
9. Coso Rock Art
The unofficial nickname for this figure is Phyllis Diller.
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 8, 2018
10. Art in Ridgecrest
Steel sculptures at Maturango Museum, 30 miles south of the canyon, are inspired by Coso Rock Art.
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 8, 2018
11. Sign, near the canyon
Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 2,257 times since then and 95 times this year. Last updated on April 23, 2022, by Ronald D. (Ron) Trigueiro of Fresno, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 8, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 7, 8, 9. submitted on April 9, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 10, 11. submitted on April 10, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
