Trona Things to Do

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This is home to Searles Lake, which formed during the Ice Ages containing 98 of the 104 natural chemical elements. That is impressive. Collectors still do come from all over to gather and see some of the great minerals found in Searles Lake, such as Hanksite, Halite, Pink Halite. They even have festival during the sponsored by the Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society, which only happens one time per year. For more information please contact them.

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They have acquired another wonderful historical asset and have extensively remodeled a building that houses some wonderful artifacts from the Trona Railway. On display are working equipment, such as actual railroad scales, addressograph machines, timetables, stamps and various photographs.

The Trona Railway Caboose was built in 1958 and it was acquired from the Trona Railway in 1992.

For more information call:
OLD GUEST HOUSE MUSEUM
13193 Main Street
Hours:
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY– 9am-Noon
TUESDAY, FRIDAY – 10am –1pm

or By Appointment (call)
(760) 372-4800 (760) 372-4884
(760) 372-5230 (760) 372-5885
(760) 372-5064 (760) 372-4600

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I was so happy that Trona is right on track in trying to preserve it's wonderful history. While passing through again to Death Valley we stopped and explored. They have acquired a wonderful house built in the 1920's and turned it into another museum.

For more information call:
OLD GUEST HOUSE MUSEUM
13193 Main Street
Hours:
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY– 9am-Noon
TUESDAY, FRIDAY – 10am –1pm

or By Appointment (call)
(760) 372-4800 (760) 372-4884
(760) 372-5230 (760) 372-5885
(760) 372-5064 (760) 372-4600

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It reads as follows:
Austin Hall, the much loved focal point of the Trona community, once stood on this site. Built in 1912 the unique structure, with its one-foot thick concrete walls, boasted 45 arches on three sides, the building provided a cooling shelter from the blazing heat with its patio center and oleander trees. Early employees were housed and fed in its spacious rooms and eventually all the town’s businesses were housed here. The patio became an open-air theatre with adjoining pool hall, a barber shop, post office, library, grocery and department store and a telegraph office with a switchboard for the single phone line into Trona.

The building was named for Stafford W. Austin, the court appointed receiver for the troubled California Trona Company. Austin guided the company through its evolution from the John Searles owned San Bernardino Borax Mining Company to the eventually successful American Potash and Chemical Corporation. The building was removed in 1965. Plaque placed by the Searles Valley Historical Society, Trona, CA, on October 23, 2002.

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I like to make a point when I can and stop and read these. The wonderful things about these, even though the individuals of the past are gone, their voices still linger with these markers reminding us of our history:)

It reads:

Borax was discovered on the nearby surface of Searles Lake in 1862. With his bother, Dennis he formed the San Bernardino Borax Mining Company in 1873 and operated it until 1897.

These chemicals in Searles Lake which include borax, potash, salt cake and lithium were deposited here by the runoff waters from melting ice age glaciers.

John Searles discovery has proved to be the world’s richest chemical storehouse, containing half the natural elements known to man.

Plaque placed by the Death Valley ‘49ers. Inc., the American Potash & Chemical Corp., and the West End Chemical Division of Stauffer Chemical Corp. November 8, 1962.

Searles Lake Borax Discovery Historical Marker No.774

The surrounding region is interesting but Trona itself looks like something from backwoods Alabama during the 1930s. Pervasive poverty,ignorance and people living in shacks. Death Valley is just up the road from Trona so thousands of tourists drive thru Trona every year on their way to Death Valley. All of them see Trona and drive thru without stopping. They're frightened and disgusted by what they see. I live in Trona and frankly view Trona as the armpit of Armerica. The place reminds me of Pusan,Korea circa 1956. Trona is the most-depressing place I've ever seen and I've travelled all over the world.

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Trona Pinnacles is part of the Searles Lake. It's rich in minerals and archelogical findings. It has served as a picturesque spot for photography, camping, hiking, and dirt bike riding or just overall enjoyment of being able to spend with family for a day hiking around and taking in the unique scenery. Namely, the pinnicales are famed for its archelogical findings of spear heads used by early man who hunted this area dating back to 8,000 - 10,000 years. They believed they hunted camel and wooly mammoths since bones have been found the Searles Lake. Yet, it found fame again for being a popular backdrop for many Hollywood movies such as Planet of the Apes, Star Trek V, The Gate II, and Disneys Holes.

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Most people who probably pass through this sleepy little town think there is no historical or tourist interest. Well, there is! The Old Guest House was built around 1920 and now serves as a wonderful little museum with some very interesting point of histoical content. So stop by!
Hours:
Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat– 9am-Noon

Tuesday Friday – 10am –1pm