Places to See
Calico Ghost town - 3 miles
Calico, a former mining town founded in March 1881 and preserved by Walter Knott of Knott's Berry Farm fame; is now a San Bernardino Ca County Park. One third of the town is original; the rest having been reconstructed. Lil's Saloon and two other eating establishments line Main Street, along with variety of mercantile stores, a school house, blacksmith shop, a gold panning operation, and more. The bath house and barber shop displays are open daily, A narrow gauge railroad operates within town limits and a hardrock silver mine offers underground exploration. Please visit the Calico website for more information and an events schedule.
Barstow Main Street Murals - 6 miles
A walking gallery of murals depicting Barstow history — see these in chronological order — on Route 66's last existing "Main Street." Their photo gallery and tour map is at Main Street Murals.
Museums
- Desert Discovery Center - 5 miles
Some of the displays include: extinct animal tracks, the famous Old Woman Meteorite, paleontology and geology.
The Old Woman Meteorite is the second largest meteorite in the United States — 38 inches (97 cm) long, 34 inches (56 cm) high and weighs 6,070 pounds (2,750 kg). Please visit their Desert Discovery Center website for more information.
- Mojave Valley River Museum - 6 miles
To explore the secrets of the Mojave Desert, this vast collection of natural and historic treasures is a great place to start. For information and directions see the Mojave Valley River Museum website.
- Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum - 5 miles
- Take a step into the nostalgia of the '40s, '50s, even '60s
as you browse this collection of historic photographs and
artifacts related to Route 66 and the Mojave Desert Communities,
pioneer trails, automotive history, businesses and sites.
The museum is located in the historic
Harvey House "Casa del Desierto," at 685
North First Street, Barstow. Completed in 1911 by the AT&SF
Railway during the heyday of rail passenger service, Barstow
boasted this splendid rail depot / restaurant / hotel complex.
Please visit the
Route 66 exhibits website for more information.
- Barstow Railroad Museum
The Harvey House is also the home of the Western America Railroad Museum, which preserves the history of railroading in the Pacific Southwest for all who love railroads and railroading. See the Dog Tooth Mountain model railroad the the incredible dated nails (historic track tie spikes) collection — these are only samples of the many interpretive and historical displays you'll find there. The museum is open to the public 11am - 4pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Archeological Sites
- Rainbow Basin National Natural Landmark - 12 miles
Rainbow Basin, a national natural landmark managed by the Bureau
of Land Management, is an area of badlands that folded and
faulted leaving colored rock strata that eroded to create small
ravines & pinnacles. See the BLM
Rainbow Basin
website for more information
- Calico Early Man Archeological Site - 15 miles
Said to be one of the most important archaeological sites in North America, this is a unique in place museum of Pleistocene archaeology and geology. It consists of two master pits, where most of the findings were made. Archeologist Louis Leakey was the director of this site/camp from 1963 until his death in 1972. Excavations continue here at his old camp, which has a visitors center and museum. Please visit the BLM Early Man website for information.
- Black Mountain Rock Art District - 35 miles
Located northwest of Barstow, the district contains an extensive concentration of petroglyphs. These "rock art" engravings were put here by Native Americans over the past 12,000 years using stone tools. Please visit the BLM Black Mountain Petroglyphs website for information.
- Afton Canyon Natural Area - 35 Miles
The Mojave River Flows above ground in the Afton Canyon area. Sometimes called the "Grand Canyon of the Mojave" this is a spot for bird and wildlife viewing. Kit Carson, Jedediah Smith, and John Charles Fremont are some of the early western explorers who passed through this area. Please visit the BLM Afton Canyon website for information.