The Wild West is full of myth and legends but beyond the dust tumbleweeds, there’s a rich history.
The Mojave Desert Archives are housed within the Dennis G. Casebier Library in Goffs, California. Dedicated to preserving and sharing the pioneering spirit of the West, the archives is considered to be “the largest single collection of archival materials covering the American history of the Mojave Desert.” The more than 115,000 artifacts including oral histories, newspaper clippings, historical photographs, and more, are housed in a re-imaged version of Goffs Depot. This historical building aims to represent what was built by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway. While in-person visits are possible, a virtual tour is also accessible 24/7.
Among other items, the archives also participates in maintaining a map of community organizations that help to celebrate the history of the Desert West.