American Travel Journal: Mojave National Preserve

Our February 2015 trip to southern California continued with a stop at Kelso in the Mojave National Preserve. The town of Kelso was established by a predecessor to the Union Pacific Railroad in 1905 as a base for helper locomotive operations to climb the 2.2% grade eastbound up Cima Hill. Springs from the nearby Providence Mountains initially provided the water required for the steam locomotives. The depot was built in 1924 by Union Pacific Railroad in the Mission-Revival architectural style. During the early 1940s, the town grew to approximately 2000 people as the nearby Vulcan mine produced iron ore for the war effort and railroad operations expanded greatly. When the mine closed and the railroad switched from steam locomotives to diesel-electric locomotives, the town was slowly abandoned. The depot ceased passenger operations in the 1960s, but continued as a restaurant and crew lodging facility until it was closed altogether in 1985. Today, the depot is owned by the National Park Service and, after an extensive renovation, was reopened in 2005 as the major visitor center for the Mojave National Preserve. The depot houses an information desk, gift shop, museum, and theater on the main floor. Additional exhibits depicting historical use of the building are on the first and second floor. The theater shows the 20 minute movie "Pulse of the Desert" on an as requested basis. This 2013 production upholds the high standards of the park service. Restrooms with running water are located in a separate building.