Discover Barstow’s history through several themes: railroads, Route 66, and the history of the Mojave River Valley. North of the city, the Rainbow Basin Natural Area offers a different focus, with geological and paleontological features. This allows you to consider Barstow’s cultural history and activities in the natural area as separate interests for your stay, rather than grouping everything under a single Route 66 story.

Railroads, Route 66, and historic trails

The Harvey House Railroad Depot is a historic railroad depot on Route 66 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The present-day Harvey House is a Spanish-Moorish building designed by Mary E. J. Coulter and built between 1910 and 1913. Its construction dates, architecture, and listing in the Register offer different ways to explore the building and its history.

Two historic trails are also easy to distinguish: the Old Spanish Trail passes through Barstow and was designated a National Historic Trail in 2002. The Historic Route 66 Needles to Barstow Scenic Byway, by contrast, ends in Barstow. The Main Street Murals in downtown Barstow complement these themes with depictions of the Harvey House, the Mormon Trail and Route 66, as well as the Gold Rush and early explorers of the Mojave. The completed murals offer another perspective on local history. Main Street Murals also offers a tour of downtown murals.

Museums with different areas of focus

The Mojave River Valley Museum presents the history of the Mojave River Valley, from Father Garces’s arrival in 1776 to the space program. The Western America Railroad Museum displays railroad memorabilia from the Barstow area and the American West as a whole. You can view locomotives, photographs, and archives there; two cabooses are open for tours. Check visiting and tour details before your trip. The two museums differ in focus: one covers the history of the valley, while the other is dedicated to railroad memorabilia from Barstow and the American West.

The Route 66 Mother Road Museum focuses on historical photographs and artifacts related to Route 66 and the communities of the Mojave Desert. Topics range from early pioneer trails and railroads to automotive history, businesses, and places along the route. This complements the Western America Railroad Museum’s focus on railroads with the history of the route and the communities along it.

The Desert Discovery Center in Barstow has a different focus. It features exhibits and a desert trail for visitors to explore. The center is also home to the Old Woman Springs Meteorite, the second-largest meteorite ever found in the United States. This adds a distinct look at the desert and a particularly large meteorite to the stories of railroads, roads, and regional development.

Geology and activities in Rainbow Basin

The Rainbow Basin Natural Area is located eight miles north of Barstow. It is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and features geological and paleontological points of interest. Activities available there include hiking, camping, photography, sightseeing, and horseback riding. This focus differs from Barstow’s cultural attractions: geology and paleontology take center stage in Rainbow Basin, while Barstow’s museums explore the city’s history through railroads, Route 66, and the development of the Mojave River Valley. If you organize your stay around your interests, you can take these different themes into account.

Discover more destinations: Redlands, Adelanto, Apple Valley, Fontana, Running Springs, Montclair, Loma Linda, Twin Peaks.

For the broader travel overview: San Bernardino.