20 Mule Team Reenactment

The Death Valley 49ers are a loosely organized group dedicated to expanding public awareness of Death Valley. It always amazes me when I learn of another Californian who has never visited this National Park. There are very few trees and little vegetation to cover the fascinating geology that formed this, one of 58, National Park.

During the 2019 Death Valley 49ers annual encampment, held November 6-9, 2019 a brand spanking new replica of the three wagons that carried Borax from the Harmony Borax at Furnace Creek in Death Valley 165 miles to the train in Mojave, California from 1883 to 1889. These new replicas were pulled by the namesake 20 mules and guided by one teamster who was assisted by one swamper.

I recommend making the effort to visit next year’s encampment to see a little bit of living history.