TIMELINE
1776 Father Garces came to explore and to convert the Indians and Mexicans.
1848 The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, that ended the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), and ceded California and other lands to the United States.
1862 John Searles discovered borax in present day Trona, CA. The San Bernardino Borax Mining Company is later formed.
Early 1870's The Twenty Mule Team wagons were first designed to haul freight and ore for remote mining camps in California, Nevada and Arizona. The "Twenty" Mule Teams actually consisted of 18 mules and 2 horses.
1872 Francis M. "Borax" Smith established the first successful borax mining operation at Teel's Marsh, Nevada.
1873 John Searles was the first to use the 20 Mule Team method to haul borax. Searles and his teamsters transported borax from his mining operations at what was then known as "Slate Range Playa" and later called "Borax Lake" (now Searles dry lake). Before the railroad was built through Mojave, Searles' Twenty Mule Teams and wagons hauled borax 175 miles to the harbor at San Pedro.
1876 Mojave was established when the Southern Pacific Railroad laid out the original plat for a town on its line between Los Angeles and San Francisco over nearby Tehachapi Pass. Searles' borax wagons now had a 4 day journey to the railhead in Mojave with their ore deliveries.
1881 The discovery of borax in Death Valley by Aaron and Rosie Winters leads to the valley's most profitable mining period. The Winters quickly sold their Death Valley claim to William T. Coleman, a San Francisco businessman for $20,000. Word of the discovery spread quickly and the borax industry in Death Valley was born.
1881 Isadore Daunet became the first to develop borate minerals within Death Valley. Daunet's operations were known as the Eagle Borax Works.
1882 Coleman opened the Harmony Borax Works near present day Furnace Creek Ranch. Ed Stiles and J.W.S. Perry combined their abilities and expertise, by designing and constructing 10 wagons, in Mojave California, at a cost of $900 each.
1883-1889 The Twenty Mule Team Trail was operational between Harmony Borax Works in Death Valley and the terminus in Mojave.
Late 1800's Gold and silver were discovered in El Paso, Rand and Piute Mountains. Randsburg, Cantil and Garlock towns were created.
1925 Borax was discovered in Boron.
1957 Deep Pit Mine was opened in Boron. It was the largest open pit mine in the world and boasted the third largest payroll in Kern County.
1959 Construction began in January for a supermarket, gas station, motel and four stores in California City.
1960 Community Services District sold $400,000 in bonds to construct 160-acre Central Park,
1961 Central Park Lake was filled.
1962 Par 3 Golf Course was opened.
1963 Mendelsohn opened 20 Mule Team Parkway to Galileo Hill. California City Airport opened.
1965 Ground was broken for R.P. Ulrich School. California City was incorporated.
1967 California City opened the new Sports Arena.
1968 The Community Center, originally known as the Merbisc Building, opened on Central Park Lake.
1969 California City's own Police Department was formed.
1970 Original Pro shop built on Par 3 Golf Course. It later burned down in 1981, which also was home for the East Kern Historical Museum Society. Ground was broken for 4-story Holiday Inn on Central Park Lake.
1971 Aspen Mall opened. Showcase Theater premiered with blockbuster movie, "Airport".
1973 Medical Center on North Loop Blvd opened. Space shuttle testing began at Edwards Air Force Base. City dedicated California City Airport.
1975 Interior Secretary designated "20 Mule Team Parkway" as a National Recreational Trail. New City Hall was opened on City's 10th anniversary with Les Brown playing at commemoration dance.
1978 Tierra Del Sol Championship Golf Course opened.
1981 Silver Saddle Resort at Galileo Hill was dedicated.
1992 to present: Desert Jade Senior Complex opened. New airport terminal and restaurant was built. California City Middle School was dedicated. New police facility opened.
1776 Father Garces came to explore and to convert the Indians and Mexicans.
1848 The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, that ended the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), and ceded California and other lands to the United States.
1862 John Searles discovered borax in present day Trona, CA. The San Bernardino Borax Mining Company is later formed.
Early 1870's The Twenty Mule Team wagons were first designed to haul freight and ore for remote mining camps in California, Nevada and Arizona. The "Twenty" Mule Teams actually consisted of 18 mules and 2 horses.
1872 Francis M. "Borax" Smith established the first successful borax mining operation at Teel's Marsh, Nevada.
1873 John Searles was the first to use the 20 Mule Team method to haul borax. Searles and his teamsters transported borax from his mining operations at what was then known as "Slate Range Playa" and later called "Borax Lake" (now Searles dry lake). Before the railroad was built through Mojave, Searles' Twenty Mule Teams and wagons hauled borax 175 miles to the harbor at San Pedro.
1876 Mojave was established when the Southern Pacific Railroad laid out the original plat for a town on its line between Los Angeles and San Francisco over nearby Tehachapi Pass. Searles' borax wagons now had a 4 day journey to the railhead in Mojave with their ore deliveries.
1881 The discovery of borax in Death Valley by Aaron and Rosie Winters leads to the valley's most profitable mining period. The Winters quickly sold their Death Valley claim to William T. Coleman, a San Francisco businessman for $20,000. Word of the discovery spread quickly and the borax industry in Death Valley was born.
1881 Isadore Daunet became the first to develop borate minerals within Death Valley. Daunet's operations were known as the Eagle Borax Works.
1882 Coleman opened the Harmony Borax Works near present day Furnace Creek Ranch. Ed Stiles and J.W.S. Perry combined their abilities and expertise, by designing and constructing 10 wagons, in Mojave California, at a cost of $900 each.
1883-1889 The Twenty Mule Team Trail was operational between Harmony Borax Works in Death Valley and the terminus in Mojave.
Late 1800's Gold and silver were discovered in El Paso, Rand and Piute Mountains. Randsburg, Cantil and Garlock towns were created.
1925 Borax was discovered in Boron.
1957 Deep Pit Mine was opened in Boron. It was the largest open pit mine in the world and boasted the third largest payroll in Kern County.
1959 Construction began in January for a supermarket, gas station, motel and four stores in California City.
1960 Community Services District sold $400,000 in bonds to construct 160-acre Central Park,
1961 Central Park Lake was filled.
1962 Par 3 Golf Course was opened.
1963 Mendelsohn opened 20 Mule Team Parkway to Galileo Hill. California City Airport opened.
1965 Ground was broken for R.P. Ulrich School. California City was incorporated.
1967 California City opened the new Sports Arena.
1968 The Community Center, originally known as the Merbisc Building, opened on Central Park Lake.
1969 California City's own Police Department was formed.
1970 Original Pro shop built on Par 3 Golf Course. It later burned down in 1981, which also was home for the East Kern Historical Museum Society. Ground was broken for 4-story Holiday Inn on Central Park Lake.
1971 Aspen Mall opened. Showcase Theater premiered with blockbuster movie, "Airport".
1973 Medical Center on North Loop Blvd opened. Space shuttle testing began at Edwards Air Force Base. City dedicated California City Airport.
1975 Interior Secretary designated "20 Mule Team Parkway" as a National Recreational Trail. New City Hall was opened on City's 10th anniversary with Les Brown playing at commemoration dance.
1978 Tierra Del Sol Championship Golf Course opened.
1981 Silver Saddle Resort at Galileo Hill was dedicated.
1992 to present: Desert Jade Senior Complex opened. New airport terminal and restaurant was built. California City Middle School was dedicated. New police facility opened.
