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National Register of Historic Places listings in Inyo County, California facts for kids

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Map of California highlighting Inyo County
Inyo County is in California, a state in the United States.

This article is about special places in Inyo County, California, that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These places are important because they tell us about history, culture, or amazing natural features.

The National Register of Historic Places is like a special list kept by the United States government. It helps protect buildings, sites, and objects that are important to American history. In Inyo County, there are 17 places on this list, and two of them are even more special, called National Historic Landmarks! These landmarks are extra important because they have a big impact on the history of the whole country.

You can find these places all over Inyo County, from ancient rock art sites to old mining towns and historic buildings. Let's explore some of them!

Discovering Inyo County's Historic Treasures

Inyo County is a fascinating place with a rich past. Many of its historic sites are found in Death Valley National Park, which is known for its extreme landscapes and unique history.

Ancient Art and Sites

Some of the oldest and most amazing sites in Inyo County are connected to the people who lived here thousands of years ago.

Coso Rock Art District

The Coso Rock Art District is a very special place. It's home to one of the largest collections of petroglyphs (rock carvings) in North America. Imagine ancient artists carving pictures into rocks! Many of these carvings show bighorn sheep, which were important for food and culture to the native people. This area is so important that it's a National Historic Landmark.

Coso sheep
An ancient rock carving of a sheep in the Coso Rock Art District.

Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons

Close to the Coso Rock Art District are the Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons. These canyons also have many incredible rock carvings. They show us what life was like for the ancient people, their beliefs, and the animals they saw. These canyons are also a National Historic Landmark.

Fossil Falls Archeological District

Fossil Falls is a unique place where ancient lava flows created interesting rock formations. But it's also an important archeological site. People lived here long ago, and scientists have found tools and other signs of their lives. It's like a natural museum telling a story of ancient times.

FossilFalls
The unique rock formations at Fossil Falls.

Mining History and Old Towns

Inyo County has a strong connection to mining, especially for borax and other minerals. Many old towns and sites tell the story of the tough but exciting lives of miners.

Death Valley Scotty Historic District

This district includes Scotty's Castle, a famous mansion in Death Valley National Park. It was built by a wealthy businessman, Albert Johnson, but it's named after "Death Valley Scotty" (Walter Scott), a colorful character who claimed to own a gold mine. The castle is a unique example of Spanish-style architecture in the middle of the desert.

Death Valley Scotty's Castle
Scotty's Castle, a famous landmark in Death Valley.

Eagle Borax Works

The Eagle Borax Works was one of the first places where borax was mined in Death Valley. Borax was a very important mineral used in many products. This site shows us how people worked in the harsh desert environment to get this valuable resource.

EagleBoraxWorksCA
The remains of the Eagle Borax Works.

Harmony Borax Works

Another important borax mining site is the Harmony Borax Works. This is where the famous "20 Mule Teams" were used to haul borax out of Death Valley. These teams of mules pulled huge wagons filled with borax across the desert, making them a symbol of the tough mining days.

Twenty mule team wagon Harmony Borax Works sw
A replica of the 20 Mule Team wagons used at Harmony Borax Works.

Laws Narrow Gauge Railroad Historic District

The town of Laws was once a busy railroad town. The Laws Narrow Gauge Railroad Historic District preserves the old train station, tracks, and other buildings. This narrow-gauge railroad was important for transporting goods and people in the Owens Valley. It's like stepping back in time to the days of steam trains.

Laws Narrow Gauge Railroad
The historic train at Laws Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Leadfield

Leadfield was a short-lived mining town in Death Valley National Park. It was founded during a mining boom, but it didn't last long. Today, you can still see some of the old buildings and imagine what life was like for the miners who hoped to strike it rich.

Leadfield Building 1
An old building remaining at Leadfield.

Skidoo

Skidoo was another gold mining town in Death Valley. It was famous for having a pipeline that brought water from far away to the desert. Like many boomtowns, Skidoo eventually became a ghost town, but its remains tell a story of ambition and hardship.

Skidoo in 1906
Skidoo in 1906, during its mining boom.

Saline Valley Salt Tram Historic Structure

This amazing structure is a tramway built to carry salt from the Saline Valley over the Inyo Mountains. It was an incredible engineering feat, stretching for miles across rugged terrain. It shows how creative people were in moving resources in difficult landscapes.

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Part of the historic Saline Valley Salt Tram.

Important Buildings and Sites

Beyond ancient sites and mining towns, Inyo County also has important buildings that played a role in its history.

Inyo County Courthouse

The Inyo County Courthouse in Independence is an important building for the county. It's where many legal and government decisions have been made over the years. Its architecture and history reflect the development of the region.

Inyo County Courthouse
The historic Inyo County Courthouse in Independence.

Manzanar War Relocation Center, National Historic Site

Manzanar is a very important and somber place. During World War II, it was one of ten camps where Japanese Americans were forced to live. This site is now a National Historic Site, helping people learn about this difficult period in American history and remember the importance of civil rights.

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A flag at the Manzanar War Relocation Center.

Death Valley Junction Historic District

Death Valley Junction is a small community with a unique history. Its historic district includes the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel, a famous building that was once a borax company town and later became a performing arts center. It's a surprising cultural gem in the desert.

Amargosa Opera House
The Amargosa Opera House in Death Valley Junction.

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National Register of Historic Places listings in Inyo County, California Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.