Barstow in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Barstow Harvey House

Photographed by Flexible Fotography, October 17, 2023

1. Barstow Harvey House Marker

Inscription. Harvey Houses were legendary in the history of Western rail travel. Operated by Fred Harvey in conjunction with this Santa Fe Railway, the network of restaurant-hotels set a new standard in quality meal service. Barstow's Spanish-Moorish "Casa Del Desierto" opened in 1911 and closed in 1971. It was registered as one of the last and finest remaining examples of the West's famous Harvey Houses.

Erected 1983 by State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Billy Holcomb Chapter of E Clampus Vitus, Mojave River Valley Museum, San Bernadino County Museum, and Fred Harvey, Inc. (Marker Number 892.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Landmarks • Notable Buildings • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, the California Historical Landmarks, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.

Location. 34° 54.274′ N, 117° 1.49′ W. Marker is in Barstow, California, in San Bernardino County. It can be reached from the intersection of North First Avenue and Riverside Drive. Exit I-15 in Barstow at Barstow Road (SR-247), cross over the freeway and continue north for 0.8 miles.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Turn left on Main Street (Old Route 66), drive 0.2 miles and turn right on North 1st Avenue. Continue past the bridge about 0.1 of a mile and turn right on Riverside Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 846 First Ave, 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 Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Barstow, California (within shouting distance of this marker); Knights of the Rails (within shouting distance of this marker); Waterman Elementary School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ft Irwin National Training Center (approx. 0.4 miles away); Brubaker Mann Inc. (approx. 0.4 miles away); General Beale Uses Camels (approx. 0.4 miles away); Gold (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Mormon Trail (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Barstow.

More about this marker. This marker was moved from the original location at the Barstow Museum to the Harvey House in the spring of 2003. The Harvey House has a Route 66 Museum located in the rear of the building[closed in 2024]
SOURCE: Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069 35th Anniversary Plaque Book by Phillip Holdaway

Regarding Barstow Harvey House. In 1893 Fred Harvey, founder and operator of the Santa Fe Harvey Houses, took over the operation of all hotel and restaurants on the Santa Fe line, including the one at Barstow (then Waterman

Photographed by Joseph Beeman, April 21, 2006

2. Barstow Harvey House Marker

Junction) constructed in 1885. In 1908 this Harvey House burned, and in 1910-13 the present Spanish-Moorish structure designed by architect Mary E. J. Coulter was constructed. It is the best surviving example of California's depot-hotels of the turn of the century.

Also see . . .
1. Harvey Houses - Hotels, Lunchrooms, Restaurants in the Old West. (Submitted on May 4, 2006.)
2. History and Ritual of E Clampus Vitus. History of the fraternal organization that helped erect this marker. (Submitted on May 4, 2006.)

3. Fred Harvey (entrepreneur). Wikipedia biography. (Submitted on September 9, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Casa Del Desierto and the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Beeman, April 21, 2006

3. Casa Del Desierto and the Marker

Casa Del Desierto image. Click for full size.

Published and Distributed by Columbia Wholesale Supply

4. Casa Del Desierto

Description on Postcard: Barstow California - Casa Del Desierto - "House of the Desert" - Landmark hotel built in 1912. In bygone days this hotel housed famous movie stars while shooting movies in the desert. In the earlier days of gracious living the "Harvey Girls" brightened the dining room.

Barstow Harvey House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by : - A Fred Harvey Postcard

5. Barstow Harvey House

Description on Postcard:
Casa del Desierto (House of the Desert) the Sante Fe Hotel at Barstow, is built after the style of the Spanish renaissance, with walls of tapestry brick and grey stone trimmings, red tile roof and arcade balconies on both stories.
Barstow is a junction of Sante Fe lines from San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley points.

Photographed by Flexible Fotography, October 17, 2023

6. Barstow Harvey House

Barstow Harvey House Ballroom 2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, August 14, 2025

7. Barstow Harvey House Ballroom 2

Barstow Harvey House Display image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, August 14, 2025

8. Barstow Harvey House Display

Barstow Harvey House Front Lobby image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, August 14, 2025

9. Barstow Harvey House Front Lobby

From inside the Barstow Harvey House Ballroom display image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, August 14, 2025

10. From inside the Barstow Harvey House Ballroom display

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2006, by Joseph Beeman of Upland, California. This page has been viewed 5,641 times since then and 101 times this year. Last updated on December 18, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. Photos: 1. submitted on December 14, 2023, by Flexible Fotography of San Diego, California. 2, 3. submitted on May 4, 2006, by Joseph Beeman of Upland, California. 4, 5. submitted on October 28, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 6. submitted on December 14, 2023, by Flexible Fotography of San Diego, California. 7, 8. submitted on October 11, 2025, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 9, 10. submitted on October 18, 2025, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.