Lone Pine in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Wedding of the Waters Pageant
Photographed By Denise Boose, September 27, 2014
1. Wedding of the Waters Pageant Marker
Inscription.
Wedding of the Waters Pageant. . , The pageant weekend in 1937 was created by Father Crowley and locals to celebrate the opening of the much needed new paved road section connecting Owens Valley to Death Valley and points east., Friday morning a special gourd of water was scooped from the highest lake in the USA, north of Mt. Whitney. It was carried down steep trails to Whitney Portal at roads end. That afternoon three Pony Express type local horsemen took the water down to the Bank of America in Lone Pine for the first night. Participants in the many special events included Governor Merriam of California, Movie Stars, decedents (sic) of the ill-fated Sierra Donner Party and Death Valley 49ers. Saturday the water gourd was carried short distances south by local drivers and historic conveyances to Keeler train station for the second night. Sunday a car and driver took the water south to the Road Opening Ceremony, then down to the Union Oil plane at Panamint Dry Lake. The pilot then flew the water to Death Valley headquarters at Furnance Creek for a luncheon. Near sunset he completed lthe "Wedding of the Waters, from Highest to the Lowest, Pageant" by flying south to spill the water into Badwater Springs, the lowest body of water in the USA. Moutain top campfires along the way signaled the completion of the Pageant. . This historical marker was erected in 2008 by Lone Pine Community Assoc. NGHS So. Inyo Museum. It is in Lone Pine in Inyo County California
The pageant weekend in 1937 was created by Father Crowley and locals to celebrate the opening of the much needed new paved road section connecting Owens Valley to Death Valley and points east.
Friday morning a special gourd of water was scooped from the highest lake in the USA, north of Mt. Whitney. It was carried down steep trails to Whitney Portal at roads end. That afternoon three Pony Express type local horsemen took the water down to the Bank of America in Lone Pine for the first night. Participants in the many special events included Governor Merriam of California, Movie Stars, decedents (sic) of the ill-fated Sierra Donner Party and Death Valley 49ers.
Saturday the water gourd was carried short distances south by local drivers and historic conveyances to Keeler train station for the second night.
Sunday a car and driver took the water south to the Road Opening Ceremony, then down to the Union Oil plane at Panamint Dry Lake. The pilot then flew the water to Death Valley headquarters at Furnance Creek for a luncheon. Near sunset he completed lthe "Wedding of the Waters, from Highest to the Lowest, Pageant" by flying
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south to spill the water into Badwater Springs, the lowest body of water in the USA. Moutain top campfires along the way signaled the completion of the Pageant.
Erected 2008 by Lone Pine Community Assoc. NGHS So. Inyo Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.
Location. 36° 36.476′ N, 118° 3.855′ W. Marker is in Lone Pine, California, in Inyo County. Marker is on N Main St, on the right when traveling north. On the side of the El Dorado Saving Bank wall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 N Main St, Lone Pine CA 93545, United States of America. Touch for directions.
10. Death Valley 20 Mule Team Borax Driver - Johnny O'Keefe
Photographed By Denise Boose, September 27, 2014
11. Train to Keeler
Photographed By Denise Boose, September 27, 2014
12. 1938 Lincoln Zephyr Driver, 3-Time Indy 500 Winner Louis Meyer 1930s
Photographed By Denise Boose, September 27, 2014
13. Wedding of the Waters Pageant Marker
Photographed By Denise Boose, September 27, 2014
14. Badwater
Photographed By Denise Boose, September 27, 2014
15. Official Road Opening Telegraph Sent by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Photographed By Denise Boose, September 27, 2014
16. Keeler Train Station
Photographed By Denise Boose, September 27, 2014
17. Wedding of the Waters Pageant Marker
Photographed By Denise Boose, September 27, 2014
18. Wedding of the Waters Pageant Mural
Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2014, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 796 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. submitted on October 5, 2014, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.