Inyokern in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Freeman Junction
1. Freeman Junction Marker
In 1834 explorer Joseph R. Walker passed this junction of Indian trails after discovering nearby Walker Pass. Death Valley 49er parties here diverged west and south after their escape from Death Valley enroute to the California gold fields. Later this became a junction point where the bandit Tiburcio Vasquez preyed on stages and freighters traveling between the Kern River mines and Los Angeles and the mines of Bodie and the Panamints.
California Registered Historical Landmark No. 766
Erected 1961 by California State Park Commission, Death Valley 49ers Inc, and Kern County Historical Society. (Marker Number 766.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1834.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 35° 36.124′ N, 117° 54.433′ W. Marker was in Inyokern, California, in Kern County. It was on Isabella Walker Pass Road (State Highway 178 at milepost 88), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map.
this page online
Regionally, this marker was in California’s San Joaquin Valley, specifically in the Central Valley, and in the Sierra Nevada. It was also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it was 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 found itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 16 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Indian Wells (approx. 5 miles away); "Siding 16" (approx. 6.2 miles away); Walker's Pass (approx. 7.9 miles away); Burro Schmidt Tunnel (approx. 13.4 miles away); Garlock (approx. 15.3 miles away).
More about this marker. The plaque is missing, but the California Historical Landmark street sign is still there.
Also see . . . California Landmark Foundation. The foundation is raising money to replace missing California Historical Landmark plaques. (Submitted on December 12, 2024.)
Photographed by Michael Kindig, December 4, 2011
2. Freeman Junction Marker
Photographed by Michael Kindig, December 4, 2011
3. Freeman Junction Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 27, 2023
4. Marker is Missing
Photographed by Craig Baker, March 29, 2022
5. Sign at Highway
Photographed by Lester J Letson, July 18, 2013
6. Freeman Junction Historical Talk
Historian Mark Hall-Patton of the Clark County, Nevada Museum gives a talk on Freeman Junction and the route of Joseph Walker during a history trip tracing Walker's route in July of 2013.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,778 times since then and 170 times this year. Last updated on October 13, 2022, by Alan Price or Jayne Hotchkiss-Price of Caliente, California. Photos: 1. submitted on March 6, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3. submitted on December 7, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 4. submitted on May 12, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on April 4, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on January 3, 2014, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
