Christian Brevoort Zabriskie facts for kids
Christian Brevoort Zabriskie (born October 16, 1864 – died February 8, 1936) was an important American businessman. He was the vice president of the Pacific Coast Borax Company. A famous spot called Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park is named after him. It's a beautiful place in the Black Mountains, east of Death Valley.
Who Was Christian Zabriskie?
Christian Brevoort Zabriskie was born in Fort Bridger, Wyoming Territory. His father, Captain Elias B. Zabriskie, was stationed there. Christian's family came from Poland and the Netherlands. They settled in New Jersey way back in 1662.
As a young man, Christian went to many different schools. He started working very early as a telegrapher for the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. This job was in Carson City, Nevada. But Christian was always looking for new challenges. He soon moved to Candelaria, Nevada. There, he worked for the Esmeralda County Bank.
Christian was a very active person. One job was not enough for him! He started other businesses. One of these was a partnership with a local cabinet maker. Together, they opened a mortuary. They didn't know how to embalm bodies. But in a mining town, people just needed a quick burial.
Zabriskie's Career in Borax
Christian Zabriskie's life changed in 1885. A man named F. M. "Borax" Smith hired him. Smith was the head of the Pacific Coast Borax Company. Christian's first job was to manage hundreds of Chinese workers. This was at the Columbus Marsh area near Candelaria. This was the start of his long career in the borax industry.
Borax is a mineral used in many products. It's in cleaning supplies, cosmetics, and even some types of glass.
Christian became a very important person at the company. He rose to be the vice president and general manager. He worked in this role for 36 years! He finally retired in 1933.
During his time, the Pacific Coast Borax Company grew a lot. They moved most of their borax mining from Candelaria. They started bigger operations in the Death Valley area. They also mined in the Calico Mountains near Yermo, California. Another big mining spot was Searles Lake near Trona, California.
All this happened before 1933. That's when the Death Valley area became a National Monument. But Zabriskie Point is still there today. It honors Christian Brevoort Zabriskie. He worked hard for the Pacific Coast Borax Company for many years. He passed away in 1936, just three years after he retired.
