Daggett, Cal - Rt. 66
Exploratography Date: September 20 of 2014
I spotted this old stone and cement ruin a bit west of Daggett on the Mother Road. Places like this fascinate me for some reason and I love running across them. I wonder about the history of what may have happened there over the years, who lived there, why this spot, the life stories, all forgotten now. There was quite a bit of rubble and it was obvious that this building had been on fire at some point.
Daggett is a neat little desert town with a rich history. Founded in the 1860s as Calico Junction, the town was later renamed Daggett in honor of California Lt. Governor John Daggett. The town's main purpose was originally being a supply center for the nearby silver mines of Calico. One of its later claims to fame was being a location in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. The California Inspection Station mentioned in the book was located in Daggett and the 1940 movie used that station in the film. Several buildings remain today in town that date back over 100 years. Here are some of the interesting sites in town.
The Desert Market was reportedly the first fire-proof building constructed in the Mojave Desert. It was built from a railcar load of cement after the original wooden Desert Market burned to the ground in 1908.
The stone building on the right was originally a two-story hotel, built with a domed lobby. Constructed in 1875, it survived three fires during its lifetime. After the 1908 conflagration, the building was restored into the one floor building we see today. Famous personages said to have spent the night in the hotel include John Muir and Death Valley Scotty. The building on the left? Once the town’s General Store. Looks like it could fit right into a Clint Eastwood western.
Hopefully, some kind of leftover “yard art” from Hallowe’en.
The stories that couch could tell.
This cool building with the curved roof (Russian design?) reportedly once served travelers along Route 66 as a Cafe back in the 1930s - 1940s. Reportedly built inn 1926, it may have originally served as a land office. I believe it is currently a private residence.
This cool sign with the curved arrow is all that’s left of a combination Gas Station, Motel and Cafe, called “Kelley’s.”
The Daggett Pioneer Cemetery is located just a short ways east of downtown. There are quite a few graves in this old cemetery, some dating back to the mid-1800s, some very recent.
Most of the graves are marked with simple wooden crosses. I'm guessing there are probably many unmarked graves here as well. It was a quiet place when I visited. Until the next train went by. And then the next one :-)
A short video filmed along Route 66 in California's Mojave Desert. A few highlights along the way from Daggett to Chambless. Newberry Springs, Ludlow, Amboy and a lot of trains.
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GoPro or Go Home - Joshua Tree National Park https://t.co/TJAShuigdc -
The Barbed Wire Trail - Joshua Tree National Park https://t.co/o0FKwmB68R
