Death Valley National Park in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Burned Wagons Point

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 29, 2022

1. Burned Wagons Point Marker

Inscription. Near this monument, Jayhawker group of Death Valley Forty-Niners, gold seekers from middle west, who entered Death Valley in 1849 seeking short route to mines of Central California, burned their wagons, dried the meat of some oxen and, with surviving animals, struggled westward on foot.

Erected 1949 by California Centennials Commission. Death Valley 49'ers, Inc. (Marker Number 441.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.

Location. 36° 36.401′ N, 117° 8.766′ W. Marker is in Death Valley National Park, California, in Inyo County. It is on U.S. 190, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Death Valley CA 92328, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

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 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Road To Adventure (within shouting distance of this marker); Eichbaum Toll Road (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Death Valley’s First Tourist Resort (about 600 feet away); Devil’s Cornfield (approx. 4.2 miles away); Old Stovepipe Wells (approx. 5.2 miles away);

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Transportation Traces (approx. 5.9 miles away); McLean Spring (approx. 7 miles away); An Architectural Heritage (approx. 8.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Death Valley National Park.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Wagon Wheel History (was approx. 5.9 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. - “Survivors of Death Valley in 1849”

Photographed by Trev Meed, November 6, 2009

2. Burned Wagons Point Marker

Located near the hotel at Stovepipe Wells.

Vintage Postcard of the Marker image. Click for full size.

courtesy Colorpicture Publishers

3. Vintage Postcard of the Marker

Description on Postcard:
Alongside Stove Pipe Wells Hotel in Death Valley National Monument is the "Burnt Wagons" Monument. It marks the area where distraught members of the gold-seeking Jayhawkers party of 1849 burned their wagons and set off on foot after killing some of their oxen and drying the meat.

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 30, 2022

4. Street Sign

Credits. This page was last revised on January 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2015, by Trev Meed of Round Mountain, Nevada. This page has been viewed 1,274 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 14, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on October 9, 2015, by Trev Meed of Round Mountain, Nevada. 3. submitted on October 12, 2015. 4. submitted on April 14, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.