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. Marker 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

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miles. 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.

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); General Beale Uses Camels (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Mormon Trail (approx. 0.4 miles away); Calico Mountain Mines (approx. 0.4 miles away); Christiansen Memorial Plaza (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mojave Runners (approx. 0.4 miles away); Father Garces (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.
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 Junction) constructed

Photographed By Joseph Beeman, April 21, 2006

2. Barstow Harvey House Marker

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

Credits. This page was last revised on February 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2006, by Joseph Beeman of Upland, California. This page has been viewed 4,935 times since then and 57 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. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.