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A Massive Aerial Photograph of Barstow, California
Nine foot wide aerial photograph of Barstow, California, taken shortly after the completion of the Interstate 40 - Route 66 interchange was completed in 1958.
The map is framed at the top by the dry wash bed of the Mojave River, with the Interstate 15 at the center and the line of the railroad and Route 66 at the center.
The thriving trainyard, shown at the top right, would expand to the west of 1st Street and to the north of Route 66 by the years 2000, filling the area between the Mojave River and Route 66, more than quadrupling the size of the trainyard east of 1st Avenue.
Barstow, California
Barstow was officially founded in 1888, following the arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad. Located on the Mojave River, close to the area where silver was discovered in the nearby Calico Mountains in 1882. The town was named after William Barstow Strong, the president of the Santa Fe Railroad. The thriving mining activities in the surrounding areas of Daggett and Calico initially contributed to Barstow's growth.
A significant landmark in Barstow's early history was the Harvey House, part of a chain of restaurants on the railroad, which was built around 1885. Harvey Houses were known for their high-quality service and played a crucial role in the refinement of rail travel. The original Harvey House in Barstow burned down in 1908 but was rebuilt and reopened in 1911 as the Casa Del Desierto, offering gourmet cuisine and luxurious accommodations to rail travelers.
The advent of the automobile era brought new life to Barstow, particularly with the establishment of Route 66 in the 1920s. The historic Route 66 ran through the center of Barstow, with the Harvey House continuing to be a popular stop for travelers.
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