Transportation Traces

Transportation Traces. . , The faint two-wheel tracks of the wagon road heading southwest to historic Stovepipe Well cross the modern road at this point. Etched into the desert by freight wagons and the Rhyolite-to-Skidoo stagecoach, the road followed the footpath of early desert dwellers toward the only reliable drinking water nearby. At first, Stovepipe Well was little more than a stagnant pool of water, dug into the sand and marked with a cast-off section of metal chimney. By 1907, weary travelers were greeted with primitive amenities, including a bath house, groceries, and a bar at the Stovepipe Road House. , As the fascination with Death Valley increased, automobiles, motorcycles, trains, and even airplanes carried tourists toward the heart of the valley. It was the automobile, however, that prevailed, allowing the easiest access to Death Valley. Pioneered by this wagon road that originated in Rhyolite, the path has gradually evolved into the present-day road over Daylight Pass to Beatty, Nevada. Witnessing the evolution of transportation in Death Valley invites the question of how future visitors might explore the park. , photo captions: , · The burro was the dependable beast of burden for early prospectors, with feral populations still found in remote regions. , · The giant wagons of the Pacific Coast Borax Company's fabled 20 Mule Teams carried 10 tons of borax along several routes to rail lines in the south. , · Trains built to haul ore were adapted to become tourist rides. , · An eleven-passenger Union Pacific tour bus used by Death Valley Hotel Company.