Near Baker in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
A Traveler's Rest
Soda Springs
— Zzyzx —
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
1. A Traveler's Rest Marker
Inscription.
A Traveler's Rest. Soda Springs. The waters here at Soda Springs have sustained people of many cultures for thousands of years. Nomadic Chemehuevi people and the agrarian Mohave Indians visited these springs during hunting, gathering, and trading trips through the area. Their travels created an Indian trade route across the desert., In 1776, Father Francisco Garces, guided by Mohave Indian traders, was the first European to enter this area. By the 1860s, the Indian footpath became a wagon road for freight and passengers service between San Bernardino, California, and Prescott, Arizona. Several colorful accounts of travel on the "Mojave Road" fill the historical record, with mixed reviews of the palatability of the water at Soda Springs., Soda Springs grew to include the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, an evaporative salt works, and a small religious colony by the early 1900s. The Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Resort opened in the mid-1940s, and remained in operation until 1974. Today the former resort houses California State University Desert Studies Center., We found at the base of the hills, on the edge of the salt lake, several fine springs, slightly brackish, but not unpalatable. ~ On November 15, 1853, Lt. Robert S. Williamson U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers, was the first person to describe this welcome oasis., Bottom right photo caption: The Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Resort, shown here in the 1950s, was the inspiration of Curtis Howe Springe, a popular radio minister and health promoter.
The waters here at Soda Springs have sustained people of many cultures for thousands of years. Nomadic Chemehuevi people and the agrarian Mohave Indians visited these springs during hunting, gathering, and trading trips through the area. Their travels created an Indian trade route across the desert.
In 1776, Father Francisco Garces, guided by Mohave Indian traders, was the first European to enter this area. By the 1860s, the Indian footpath became a wagon road for freight and passengers service between San Bernardino, California, and Prescott, Arizona. Several colorful accounts of travel on the "Mojave Road" fill the historical record, with mixed reviews of the palatability of the water at Soda Springs.
Soda Springs grew to include the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, an evaporative salt works, and a small religious colony by the early 1900s. The Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Resort opened in the mid-1940s, and remained in operation until 1974. Today the former resort houses California State University Desert Studies Center.
We found at the base of the hills, on the edge of the salt lake, several fine springs, slightly brackish, but not unpalatable. ~ On November 15, 1853, Lt. Robert S. Williamson U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers, was the first person to describe this welcome oasis.
Bottom
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right photo caption: The Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Resort, shown here in the 1950s, was the inspiration of Curtis Howe Springe, a popular radio minister and health promoter.
Erected by Mojave National Preserve, National Park Service, and U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1200.
Location. 35° 8.602′ N, 116° 6.229′ W. Marker is near Baker, California, in San Bernardino County. Marker is on Zzyzx Road, 5 miles south of Interstate 15, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Baker CA 92309, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. The public is welcome to walk along the trail around the small lake. The buildings
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
2. A Traveler's Rest Marker
are only open to attendees of events at the center.
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
3. A Traveler's Rest Marker
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
4. A Traveler's Rest Marker
Mohave Indians guided the first settlers to Soda Springs.
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
5. A Traveler's Rest Marker
Wagon trains stopped at the oasis on their way to San Bernandino, California.
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
6. A Traveler's Rest Marker
Remnants fo the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad (1905-1940) are still visible at Soda Springs.
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
7. Soda Springs Pond
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
8. Zzyzx Mineral Springs Main Building
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
9. Street Signs
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
10. Zzyzx Mineral Springs Remnants
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
11. Zzyzx Mineral Springs Remnants
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
12. Zzyzx Mineral Springs bungalows
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
13. Zzyzx Mineral Springs
Photographed By Denise Boose, May 19, 2015
14. "The Castle" Dormitory Rooms
Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2015, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 500 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 20, 2015, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. submitted on May 22, 2015, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.