Bishop in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Mule

Photographed By Alvis Hendley, June 22, 2009

1. The Mule

Inscription. 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. Marker 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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Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bishop CA 93514, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. "Atlas Copco Mucker" (approx. 0.4 miles away); Whiskey Creek History (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Little Kittie Inn (approx. 0.6 miles away); Slim Princess (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Ernest Kinney Teamster Family Mural (approx. 0.7 miles away); History of "Dangerous Arrest" (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Old Inyo County Jailhouse (approx. 0.9 miles away); Project Sierra Wave (approx. 1.8 miles 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 June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 450 times since then and 22 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.