Mural #21
MINING THE MOJAVE: GOLD

Gold was the 2nd mural of the “Mining in the Mojave” series. It was the 21st of the Murals to be installed on Main Street. David Brockhurst was the master muralist. Hopeful miners flocked to California after the discovery of Gold at Sutter’s Mill in 1849. ”. After 1849, new prospectors scoured the Mojave Desert hills for signs of possible gold deposits. It was very hard work that only sometimes paid off.
In 1895, gold was discovered at Randsburg about 80 miles north of Barstow. It was one of the richest gold mining areas during the 20th century. In 1898, a 50-stamp mill was temporarily built in Barstow to handle the ore processing from Randsburg but was supplanted one year later by other stamp mills built closer to the mines. The last Randsburg mine finally closed about 2010. Today, there are nearly 40 open gold mine claims on file in the Barstow-Yermo-Daggett area. Gold fever and hope still seem to go hand in hand.

Location: 239 E. Main St. (Union Bank)