Bishop in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Mule
Photographed by Alvis Hendley, June 22, 2009
1. The Mule
A hybrid offspring of a male donkey, commonly known as a jackass, and a female horse. Characterized by long ears, a braying voice and short mane, this patient and sure-footed animal has been used as a beast of burden throughout the world.
Its size and strength gained from the horse and its stamina and intelligence inherited from the donkey made it the most widely used animal for hauling men and material from the east, thus allowing settlement of the west.
The mule was particularly useful in the eastern Sierra, where mining was done in steep mountainous terrain. In the late 1800's twenty mule teams hauled 36-ton wagons of borax from Death Valley to the railhead near the present day town of Barstow.
Erected 1997 by Slim Princess Chapter 395 E. Clampus Vitus.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list.
Location. 37° 22.368′ N, 118° 23.964′ W. Marker is in Bishop, California, in Inyo County. It can be reached from North Main Street (U.S. 395). The marker is located at the entrance kiosk to the Tri-County Fairgrounds.
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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 Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: James D. Birchim (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Fortune Seekers (approx. 0.3 miles away); "Atlas Copco Mucker" (approx. 0.4 miles away); Slim Princess (approx. 0.6 miles away); Whiskey Creek History (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Kittie Lee Inn (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Ernest Kinney Teamster Family Mural (approx. 0.7 miles away); First United Methodist Church of Bishop (approx. Ύ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bishop.
Photographed by Alvis Hendley, June 22, 2009
2. The Mule
Photographed by Alvis Hendley, November 3, 2012
3. The Mule
Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 662 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 26, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
