The Rand Desert Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the cultural and architectural history of the Rand Mining District and adjacent histoic sites in the Upper Mojave Desert Region of California. Information about the communites of Randsburg, Johannesburg, Red Mountain (Osdick), Atolia, Garlock, Saltdale, and Cantil may be found at the museum. In addition we have information and displays about Burro Schmidt's Tunnel and other mines in the area.
Each September the Rand Desert Museum hosts the RAND DISTRICT OLD WEST DAY, a street fair held on the main street of Randsburg. It features Western and Bluegrass live bands, vendors of all sorts of items and other forms of entertainment. This year 2012 the event will be held on Sept 15.
Casino Night will be held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving on November 24.
Cemetery Clean up will be Saturday May 19 in the morning please come out and help. Bring your own tools.
"UNDER CONSTRUCTION:
Since the beginning of the year 2011, Curator Bart Parker, together with Designer & Chief Photographer Will Warren and Web-Master/Designer & Artist Mark Divers, have been toiling to provide RDM with a new improved website:
The goal is to create a more comprehensive structure to our large diverse collections, easily accessible to visitors, genealogical researchers and anyone with an interest in the rich history of our district and the surrounding area; emphasis: Mining.
The theme of presentation is based on the newspapers of the Victorian era, articles & photos gathered by Bart, and contributed by descendants of pioneer families.Bart has spent thousands of hours on research. As a whole, the collection provides an unprecedented depth and breadth in insight into the details of daily life in a booming mining camp
Yet to come: Interactive Then / Now Photo Comparisons; Visitor Zoom-able Satellite Images & Maps; Maps of Underground Mine Workings; Photos of Artifacts & Mineral Samples; Oral Histories; an inventory & photo map of burials, headstones in the Johannesburg Cemetery; a 'Jail' section commemorating 'Great Moments in Public Service', our colorful list of Sheriffs, Judges, Vigilantes, Rescue Workers, Fire-fighters, Highway Patrol Officers, Lost Pilots, other unsung heros; with some defendants, gun-fighters & madams thrown in for sensational interest.
The full collection will be cross-referenced and searchable. "By making the collection accessible through the Internet, we greatly enhance our out-reach mission to the descendants of the thousands of souls who took part in the excitement, "Saw the Elephant" of desert mining. We have been able to fill-in many blanks for descendants researching their ancestors, and received access to many wonderful letters & photos of our pioneers.
We hope our efforts will both stimulate tourism and enhance the experience of visitors to the district and the museum. *
Please be patient over the many pieces yet to be installed, potholes filled. In the spirit of the unofficial Motto at the Rand Desert Museum: "It May Not be Perfect but is Better than it was before."
TO ENLARGE PHOTOS ON THIS WEBSITE GO TO LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF PHOTO AND CLICK ON ICON.
