Barstow in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
New Rebuilt City
Photographed by Denise Boose, October 10, 2025
1. New Rebuilt City Marker
Barstow s Main Street, which was originally called Elm Street, was located between the railroad tracks in front of the Harvey House. The train tracks were split around the street. South of the street were freight trains and North of the Street were the Harvey House and passenger traffic.
Starting in 1920 Santa Fee Railroad wanted to expand the tracks and Main Street was in the way. The railroad started to buy buildings along Main Street, buy land on the road that would become the new Main Street and trade landowners for their properties, and paid owners to move their buildings to the new locations along the new street. A majority of the street was moved by 1925 but there were a few holdouts that lived in the old location until 1927.
The Grand Opening of the new Main Street was July 4th 1925. The celebration was marked by a greased pig contest, a fat man race, and a car race between Barstow and Victorville (backwards). A little over a year later Main Street became part of Route 66.
Note the double roofed building to combat the desert heat.
Artist Juliette Tyson - Master Artist Kathy Fierro July 2018
Erected 2018 by Barstow Chamber of Commerce.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce
this page online
Location. 34° 53.935′ N, 117° 1.267′ W. Marker is in Barstow, California, in San Bernardino County. It is at the intersection of E Main Street and N. Sixth Avenue, on the right when traveling west on E Main Street. Located on the West side of the Barstow Pawn Shop building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 601, Barstow CA 92311, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles, in the Mojave Desert, in the Peninsular Ranges, and specifically in the Transverse Ranges. It is also in the American Southwest. 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.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Prohibition & Bootlegging in the High Desert (within shouting distance of this marker); Old National Trails Hwy (within shouting distance of this marker); Barstow Route 66 (within shouting distance of this marker); Marine Corps Logistic Base (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Beacon Hotel (about 400 feet away); The Harvey House (about 500 feet away); Waterman Junction Becomes Barstow (about 700 feet away); Christiansen Memorial Plaza (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Barstow.
Photographed by Denise Boose, October 10, 2025
2. New Rebuilt City mural
Photographed by Denise Boose, October 10, 2025
3. New Rebuilt City Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2025, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 49 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 11, 2025, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
