1776 |
First Caucasian crossing of desert: Fr. Francis Garces |
1826 |
Jedediah Smith explores a route across the Mojave from the Colorado River to San Bernardino |
1835 |
Lt. Robert Williamson explores the Mojave River while looking for a route to the Colorado River |
1844 |
Lt. John Fremont and Kit Carson cross the Mojave on similar route |
1849 |
Wagon party, while looking for a shortcut to the gold fields, becomes the first Caucasians to cross Death Valley |
1854 |
Whipple expedition surveys route across the desert |
1859 |
1,500 troops attack the Mohave Indians; Beale establishes a supply road across the Mojave from Fort Mojave to Camp Cady (near present-day Barstow) along Whipple's route; extends route to the east for a future railroad |
1860-70 |
Mining strikes in and near the desert; grazing starts in the eastern Mojave to support miners |
1866-68 |
Mojave Road used as mail route; military outposts established along the route |
1871 |
George Englemann of the USGS's 40th parallel exploration team studies the desert and gives scientific name to the Joshua tree |
1883 |
Railroad completed |
1893 |
C. Hart Merriam conducts a biological study of Death Valley |
1905-06 |
Tonopah & Tidewater railroad built from Ludlow to Tonopahvia, Death Valley; abandoned during WW II |
1906 |
Salt Lake City–Los Angeles railroad built through the desert (later became Union Pacific Railroad) |
1916 |
Federal Aid Road Act leads to development of Route 66 parallel to the railroad |
1910-30 |
Homesteading in Lanfair Valley |
1920s |
Los Angeles' population doubles; one automobile for every three citizens
Las Vegas' population grows and gambling takes off during prohibition |
1930s |
Great Depression drives many from cities to the desert for gold and for land to raise crops
Las Vegas booms again with return of alcohol; jobs from building Hoover Dam |
1938 |
Route 66 fully paved |
WWII |
Gen. Patton trains tank troops throughout Mojave Desert. Policy to eliminate coyotes and other destructive behaviors modify large sections of desert flora and fauna |
1940-60 |
Military bases established in California and southern Nevada
Second railroad constructed across desert |
1956 |
Federal Aid Highway Act authorizes interstate highways |
1960s |
Interstate highways built across desert (I-40 completed in 1973)
post-WW II regional population explosion |
1980-2000 |
Housing booms in Antelope Valley, Morongo Valley, and Yucca Valley area of western Mojave
Population dramatically increases in Las Vegas, and in Colorado River towns with casino industry
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