Desert Queen Mine

Desert Queen Mine
Nearest city Twentynine Palms, California
Coordinates 34°1′26″N 116°4′9″W / 34.02389°N 116.06917°W / 34.02389; -116.06917Coordinates: 34°1′26″N 116°4′9″W / 34.02389°N 116.06917°W / 34.02389; -116.06917
Built 1894
Architect Multiple
NRHP Reference # 76000216
Added to NRHP January 17, 1976[1]

The Desert Queen Mine was one of the more successful and long-lived mines of the high desert (Colorado Desert) in San Bernardino County, California. The abandoned mine is located in Joshua Tree National Park.

The mine is associated with Jim McHaney, a local cattle rustler, and Bill Keys, a noted rancher. The mine facilities are largely ruinous. The mine was not spectacularly successful but was sufficiently productive to remain in operation for nearly seventy-five years.[2]

The mine itself consisted of several vertical and horizontal shafts, of which four vertical shafts, five inclined shafts, and ten horizontal adits remain. Tailings piles appear in several places, with quantities of machinery scattered about the site.[3]

The mine was established by a man named Frank L. James in the early 1890s. The rich ore initially found prompted local outlaw gang leader and cattle rustler Jim McHaney to take over the mine. McHaney sent two of his men, Charley Martin and a man named Myers, to demand the mine from James. James refused, and Martin shot and killed him with a gun borrowed from Myers, after forcing James to sign over the property. Martin was acquitted of murder charges on grounds of self-defense.[3]

McHaney initially prospered but borrowed heavily to expand and fell behind on payments to the bank, ultimately losing the mine. The mine passed into the hands of William F. Keys around 1917, who operated the mine until 1961.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2008-04-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "Desert Queen Mine Stone House Ruin". List of Classified Structures. National Park Service. 2008-11-17.
  3. 1 2 3 Gordon Chappell (June 10, 1975). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Desert Queen Mine (pdf). National Park Service.


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