- Desert Queen Mine
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Desert Queen Mine
Nearest city: Twentynine Palms, California Coordinates: 34°1′26″N 116°4′9″W / 34.02389°N 116.06917°WCoordinates: 34°1′26″N 116°4′9″W / 34.02389°N 116.06917°W Built: 1894 Architect: Multiple Governing body: National Park Service 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 Riverside 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 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
- Cow Camp, home of the McHaney Gang
- Keys Desert Queen Ranch
- Wall Street Mill
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ "Desert Queen Mine Stone House Ruin". List of Classified Structures. National Park Service. 2008-11-17. http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?STATE=CA&PARK=JOTR&STRUCTURE=&SORT=&RECORDNO=57.
- ^ a b c Gordon Chappell (June 10, 1975). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Desert Queen MinePDF (645 KB). National Park Service.
National Register of Historic Places in Joshua Tree National Park Historic districts Cow Camp | Desert Queen Mine | Keys Desert Queen Ranch | Ryan House and Lost Horse Well
Properties Barker Dam | Wall Street Mill
See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Joshua Tree National Park U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other 
Category:National Register of Historic Places • 
Portal:National Register of Historic PlacesCategories:- Historic districts in California
- Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in California
- Landmarks of Riverside County, California
- Mining in Riverside County, California
- Colorado Desert
- Joshua Tree National Park
- California Registered Historic Place stubs
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