Wall Street Mill
Wall Street Mill, nestled within the rugged landscape of Joshua Tree National Park in southern California, is a remarkable historical site that offers a glimpse into the lives of early settlers, gold miners, and entrepreneurs in the Mojave Desert. This well-preserved mill, built by prospector William F. Keys in the early 20th century, is a significant piece of industrial history and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site not only provides insights into mining practices and life in the American West but also represents the resilience and ingenuity of those who sought fortunes in the arid wilderness.
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Historical Background of Wall Street Mill
The Wall Street Mill was constructed by William F. Keys, a legendary prospector and homesteader who first arrived in the region in 1910. Keys quickly established himself as a skilled craftsman and miner and began acquiring mining claims throughout the area. By the 1930s, he set up the Wall Street Mill to process gold ore for his mining operations and for other prospectors in the vicinity. The mill became a valuable resource, serving as a central processing site where mined rocks could be crushed to extract precious metals.
Constructed between 1930 and 1931, the mill took advantage of the latest technologies of its time, such as a two-stamp mill for pulverizing ore and a large diesel engine to power its machinery. The location was well-chosen, as it was close to several productive claims, and Keys could transport ore to and from the site using a truck he modified himself for desert terrain.
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Architecture and Features of Wall Street Mill
The Wall Street Mill was engineered with several advanced features for its time. The most prominent piece of equipment is the two-stamp mill, which would crush rock into fine dust, making it easier to extract gold from the ore. This operation required a significant amount of power, which was supplied by a large, two-cylinder Fairbanks-Morse engine that ran on diesel fuel, enabling the mill to operate even in the remote desert.
The mill site includes several outbuildings, machinery foundations, and remnants of equipment, all built with the ruggedness required for desert mining. One particularly fascinating feature of the mill is its camshaft-driven mechanism, which strikes the stamps down onto the ore with considerable force, allowing small gold particles to be collected using mercury. This mechanical ingenuity helped ensure that the Wall Street Mill could efficiently process ore at a time when technology and resources were limited.
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The Impact of the Wall Street Mill on Joshua Tree’s Mining Economy
The Wall Street Mill played an essential role in sustaining the local economy during the Great Depression, providing jobs for miners and serving as an essential part of the gold extraction process in the area. Keys provided milling services for various independent miners, making it possible for many to continue mining even when gold prices were low. As a result, the Wall Street Mill became a gathering point and source of livelihood for the area's prospectors.
However, mining in Joshua Tree eventually declined in the mid-20th century. The establishment of Joshua Tree National Monument in 1936 (later designated a National Park in 1994) led to increasing preservation efforts, limiting new mining operations. This shift toward conservation gradually reduced mining activities in the area. Despite this, Keys continued operating the Wall Street Mill until the 1960s, leaving behind one of the last functioning stamp mills in California.
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Preservation of the Wall Street Mill
Today, the Wall Street Mill stands as a testament to early 20th-century mining in the American West. The National Park Service has preserved it as a historical site, ensuring that visitors can experience this authentic piece of industrial history. Since its closure, the mill has been remarkably well-preserved, with much of the original machinery and equipment intact. While visitors are not allowed to enter the mill building, they can explore the surrounding area and view the mill from a short hiking trail, which is about 1.5 miles round-trip from the trailhead near Barker Dam.
The site also includes interpretive signs explaining the historical significance of the mill and the surrounding desert landscape, offering a unique educational experience. Preservation efforts have focused on maintaining the mill's original structures and machinery, and it is now protected under federal historic preservation laws.
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Visiting Wall Street Mill
To visit Wall Street Mill, travelers can follow a trail that begins near the Barker Dam parking area. This moderate hike is suitable for most visitors, although it is essential to be prepared for the desert environment. Temperatures can be extreme, and there is minimal shade along the trail. As such, it’s advised to bring plenty of water, wear sun protection, and plan the hike for the early morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cooler.
The Wall Street Mill trail offers an opportunity not only to see the mill itself but also to explore nearby remnants of historical homesteads and vehicles left behind by early settlers and prospectors. Visitors may also see the remnants of a rusty old truck that Keys abandoned nearby, which has become an iconic symbol of the desert’s mining past.
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