sign in sign up
<<
Home , Amargosa Range, Colemanite, Death Valley, Eagle Borax Works, Grapevine Mountains, Harmony Borax Works

DEATH NATIONAL MONUMENT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL MONUMENT Contents DEATH VALLEY FROM BREAKFAST Cover Open all year • Regular season, October 15 to May 15 BEFORE WHITE MEN CAME 3

THE HISTORICAL DRAMA 4 cipitation at headquarters during the past TALES WRITTEN IN ROCK AND LANDSCAPE 5 DEATH VALLEY National Monument is distinguished by its scenery— 15 years has been 2.03 inches. DESERT WILDLIFE 10 a combination of unusual geology, flora, Summer daytime temperatures in the DESERT PLANTLIFE 11 , and climate. Famed as a scene of valley itself are quite high. The maxi­ suffering in the gold-rush drama of mum air temperature of 134° F. in the INTERPRETIVE SERVICES 12 1849, Death Valley has long been shade recorded in Death Valley was a WHAT TO SEE AND DO WHILE IN THE MONUMENT 12 known to scientist and layman alike as world record until 1922 when 136.4° F. HOW TO REACH DEATH VALLEY 13 a region rich in scientific and human was reported from El Azizia, Libya. interest. The monument was established Higher locations on the in the MONUMENT SEASON 14 in 1933 and covers almost 3,000 square monument have comfortable daytime WHAT TO WEAR 14 miles. temperatures and cool nights. ACCOMMODATIONS 14 The monument is in the rugged desert From late October until May, the val­ ADMINISTRATION 15 region east of the in east­ ley climate is usually very pleasant. ern and southwestern Nevada. Days are often warm and sunny, nights PLEASE HELP PROTECT THIS MONUMENT 15 The valley itself is about 140 miles long, cool and invigorating, with the temper­ with the forbidding ature seldom below freezing. forming the western wall and the pre­ Historic Events cipitous slopes of the bounding it on the east. Running in a 1844 Fremont party, following old Spanish 1871 Further explorations for Government by Before White Men Came Trail, camped within sight of south end Wheeler and Lyle. general northwesterly direction, the val­ of Death Valley. 1872 Panamint mines discovered. Panamint ley is narrow in comparison to its length, booms in 1874. 1849 Jayhawkers, Georgians, Bennett-Arcane ranging in width from 4 to 16 miles. For centuries, the Death Valley region party, and others entered the valley 1873 First discovered in Death Valley. Nearly 550 square miles of the valley through Furnace Creek on Christmas has been inhabited by the Panamint Day. 1875 Further exploration by Lt. Rogers floor are below sea level. An area in the Birnie. Indians, a small offshoot of the vicinity of Badwater is 282 feet below 1856 First General Land Office survey of 1880 Aaron Winters sold borax claims for Shoshone Nation. Capable of great en­ Death Valley. $20,000. Borax industry in Death sea level—the lowest land in the West­ durance, ingenious in the utilization of Valley started. 1860 Darwin French and S. G. George pros­ ern Hemisphere. , im­ every edible or otherwise useful plant, pecting parties explored Panamints and 1891 Biological expedition by Merriam, mediately to the west, towers 11,331 eating any animals they could catch, fol­ parts of the valley, giving many place Palmer, Coville, and others. names still in use. feet above the lowest point. lowing the seasons in incessant migra­ 1904 Goldfield mining boom, resulting in 1861 Lieutenant Ives explored region for Cal­ to mining camps such as Rhyolite, Skidoo, Death Valley is famous for its con­ tion between valley floor and ifornia Boundary Commission, using 1908 and Greenwater. camels as pack animals. Prospecting sistently fair weather, minimum rainfall, crest, they managed to exist, but with parties active. 1926 Stove Pipe Wells Hotel and Furnace and low relative humidity. The aver­ a relatively simple culture. They called to Creek Inn established. Eichbaum toll 1864 Jacob Breyfogle lost the famed Breyfogle 1927 road built from Darwin. Beginning of age number of clear days in a calendar Death Valley "Tomesha," which means mine. tourist traffic to the valley. year is 283, although 351 clear days were "ground afire." Since the coming of 1870 Bellerin Tex Bennett started Furnace 1933 Death Valley National Monument estab­ once recorded. The average annual pre­ white men, the Indian population has Creek Ranch. lished.

2 3 greatly diminished and aboriginal cus­ desperate attempt to find a way to toms and arts have been largely lost. Be­ civilization and to bring aid if possible. fore the Shoshone arrived, the valley was After a trip of terrific hardship, they occupied by Indians who subsisted by finally returned and led their group to hunting as well as by gathering edible safety. Manly-said that the weary emi­ plants. They used the spear and the grants looked back across the valley— atlatl rather than the bow and arrow. the tremendous barrier that had caused They were here when big game was so much privation and suffering—and plentiful and perhaps were hunting cried, "Goodby, Death Valley." While mammoths and camels at the end of the several lives were lost along the trail, a ( Epoch). "Captain" Culverwell was the only emigrant of 1849 to die within Death Valley. In the next few years some of A 20-mule team. Frasher's Photos, Pomona, Calif. the "Forty-niners," undaunted, returned The Historical Drama as guides or on their own to prospect and search for the Lost Gunsight silver lode. desert in huge high-wheeled wagons proper sequence, their total thickness 'There is no record that the early Gradually the country became better drawn by 20-mule teams. In 1907, the would probably exceed 12 miles. How­ Spaniards entered or explored Death known. In the mountains around Death Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad was ever, the strata have been so greatly dis­ Valley. In 1844, John Charles Fremont Valley, towns mushroomed. Panamint built to the edge of the valley to carry torted, broken, and jumbled that the probably saw the southern end of the City and later Skidoo, Greenwater, out (another borax ), story is difficult to read. valley. The first scene in the recorded Rhyolite, and Chloride City lived their but was abandoned when a richer de­ Over a period of time nearly as old as drama of the valley was written in 1849. short lives and died, leaving only tum­ posit of borax () was discovered the earth itself, rock materials have been It remained for a wagon train of half- bled shacks, weathered timbers, and in the . Death Valley deposited by wind, water, and volcanoes, starved emigrants, pushing westward on broken bottles to mark their sites. was also brought to the attention of the and rocks have been formed from masses a supposed shortcut to the newly dis­ Occasionally, the prospectors found public through the exploits of Walter- of molten magma. The oldest rocks covered gold fields, actually to enter small amounts of precious metal in the Scott, ex-cowboy of Buffalo Bill's Wild have been so greatly changed by heat, Death Valley in the winter of that year. rugged peaks and barren which West show, who became known as Death pressure, and deformation that little can They had deserted their guide and were isolated the valley from the surrounding, Valley Scotty. In time, adventurous be learned about their original form. lost in the wilderness, hungry and tired. less-forbidding desert. Itinerant pros­ visitors drove their cars into the valley, These oldest somber-colored rocks are The wide floor of the valley, with pectors prodded their burros from one cursed its then abominable roads, but exposed in the Black Mountains east of the towering Panamints beyond, was the waterhole to the next, following Indian came again. With better roads, and all Badwater, where they are in contact with last blow to their morale. The train trails or beating out new tracks. They America on wheels, it was inevitable younger and more highly colored rocks. separated into seven groups, each seek­ crossed and recrossed the ranges from that Death Valley would come into its The alternating layers of light and ing its own escape. One group, known one end of the valley to the other. Some own. dark rock, exposed particularly well in as the Jayhawker Party, abandoned al­ of them were careless or unacquainted the Funeral and , most all of its equipment, made its exit with the country—they missed springs, Tales Written in Rock and Land­ belong to the Paleozoic rocks of inter­ through a canyon later named the Jay­ lost their burros, or lingered too long on scape mediate age. During this era, seas inter­ hawker Canyon, and crossed Panamint the floor of the valley in summer. Their mittently covered the land, allowing Valley and the Mojave Desert. After remains, dried and picked clean by co­ Death Valley is a vast geological deposition of great thicknesses of lime, suffering tremendous hardships, the Jay- yote and raven, were eventually found museum. A tremendous span of geo­ sand, gravel, and . hawkers finally reached Sutter's Fort. and buried beside the trail. logic time is indicated in its exposed Granites, thought to have been formed rocks. All of the great divisions of geo­ Another group, the Bennett-Arcane Borax was finally responsible for the during the next era (Mesozoic), are a logic time, called eras, and nearly all of party, crossed the salt flats. They partial taming of the valley. In the source of the quartz grains which form their subdivisions, or periods, are rep­ camped for 26 days at Tule and 1880's, "cottonball" borax () was the sand dunes. resented. If the layers of rocks were nearly starved. William Lewis Manly refined at the Movements of the earth's crust during pieced together and restored to their and John Rogers were sent ahead in a and freighted over agonizing miles of the first period (Tertiary) of the present

4 5 era of earth history (Cenozoic) formed 2,000 years ago, scattered volcanic ash basins that contained water, indicating a for a radius of 3 miles from the crater. more humid climate. Animals, many The smaller craters just south of Ube­ species of which are now extinct in hebe are younger—perhaps only 200 or , came to these basins to 300 years old. feed and drink. Mastodons, camels, The results of Ice Age glaciation are llamas, horses, cats, peccaries, and birds apparent in other parts of the country at made tracks in the basin , possibly high elevations and latitudes. Although, as long as 10 million years ago. These as far as known, no existed on tracks, covered with , and since the mountains of Death Valley, the local transformed into stone, are now being climate during the Ice Age was cool and exposed again as strips away moist. At one stage late in the Ice Age, their cover of more recent rock layers. Death Valley contained a 100 miles Located in an area difficult to reach, long and 600 feet deep. You can see the tracks of ancient animals will remain the shorelines of ancient at inaccessible to visitors until these fossils various places: South of Badwater, on can be given proper protection. Federal the north slopes of the Avawatz Moun­ laws provide heavy penalties for the dis­ tains, south of Ashford Mill, at Shore­ turbance of such exhibits. line Butte, and as you cross a gravel bar Late in the Tertiary Period, Death on the road to Beatty, 2 miles east of Valley and its adjacent mountains took Beatty Junction. form. Folding (bending) and faulting As the Ice Age drew to a close, the (breaking and slipping) of the earth's climate of the world gradually became crust are primarily responsible for the drier and warmer. As the Sierra Nevada origin of the valley. It appears that a was thrust upward, it became increas­ tremendous block of rock sank, leaving ingly important as a barrier to wind- an elongated basin or trough like carried moisture. As the lake water those typically formed by erosion. Sink­ evaporated, its became more con­ ing of this basin continued to deepen centrated. Death Valley, even in recent years. A Interbedded salt and water-bearing fault scarp (cliff) can be seen on the gravels are more than 1,000 feet thick gravel slope below Hanaupah Canyon. on the Devils Golf Course. The salt This result of relative movement of two probably cracked into irregular blocks great earth crustal blocks has taken place during the drying process. The blocks during the last century. were tilted and raised by the force of re- Also during the Tertiary Period, crystallization of the salt. Wind-driven Death Valley was the site of extensive rains eroded these into sharp ridges, The Devils Golf Course. Ansel Adams Photo. volcanic activity. Great thicknesses of peaks, and pinnacles. Although only volcanic rocks accumulated on the Black a few feet high, the roughness is ex­ Mountains, at Artist's Drive, and on the treme, presenting a barrier to man and east slope of the Panamint Mountains. beast. basin. Moisture brought in by winds is ing the ground surface. Sand, gravel, is the result of a series The short but violent thunder- borne upward by hot air currents, where and boulders, washed in raging torrents of explosive eruptions which built up a showers which occur during the summer it cools, condenses, and then may drop from slopes at the wide upper ends of cone with a crater one-half mile wide are largely responsible for the rock- rapidly. The rainfall is much greater canyons, are funneled through deep, con­ and 800 feet deep. The eruptions, be­ fragment cover that has greatly modified in the mountains than in the valley stricted gorges. As the debris-laden lieved to have occurred from 1,000 to the appearance of the original fault where rain may evaporate before reach­ water breaks out of the confines of these

6 7

"hourglass" canyons, it spreads out, loses time, are still at work, writing the pres­ speed, and abruptly deposits the rock ent chapter of a narrative whose end may debris (alluvium) in the shape of fans. be as far in the future as its beginning In this manner the large, gently sloping was in the past. alluvial fans that flank the valley's sides have been formed. The striking badland topography at and in Golden Canyon Desert Wildlife has been caused by rare torrential rains on Tertiary lake beds. The surface of these Animal life is common in the monu­ deposits is clay which, being nearly im­ ment, despite the popular belief that pervious to water, allows much of the little lives or grows in Death Valley. rainfall to run off immediately. Eroding A variety of habitats exist between or wearing away of the clay by small Badwater and Telescope Peak, a verti­ rivulets has developed deep . The cal distance of more than 2 miles. True, more resistant layers of gravel and few animals are seen by the casual visitor have eroded less rapidly and stand out because almost all of them are shy and prominently as ridges and layers of con­ come into the open only after dark. trasting color. Many are so adapted to desert conditions Wind, as well as water, has been that they obtain from their food all the active in producing other Death Valley moisture they need; consequently, only Charcoal kilns in Wild Rose Canyon. Frashe/s Photo, Pomona, Calif. scenic features. Quartz, which largely the central salt flats, without vegetation, forms the sand of the dunes, originated are barren of life. been recorded in the monument. Many salt flats are barren. Even there, at the in granite bedrock now exposed in Twenty-six species of mammals have are migrants or winter visitors and in­ very edge of the salt, is found the light- various places throughout the monu­ been recorded on the valley floor and clude a number of water birds. Four­ green pickleweed, a plant that is re­ ment. Flowing water has carried the others live at higher elevations. The teen species make the valley floor their sistant to salts and alkali. This region, weathered granite particles from the most commonly seen rodent is the ante­ permanent home, and others live all year with adverse growing conditions, is fa­ mountains and spread them out on lope ground squirrel, but kangaroo rats, in the adjacent mountains. The large, mous for its number of new and rare alluvial fans. As the softer material Thomas wood rats, and rabbits inhabit black, American raven is most frequently species of plants. eroded away, the resistant quartz, left the mesquite thickets and even the seen. exposed to the wind, was reduced to scantily vegetated alluvial fans. The Death Valley plants possess strange sand particles and then blown into piles desert kit fox, desert , and Bailey Even fishes are not left out of the and marvelous mechanisms by which that eventually became large dunes. bobcat are occasionally seen along the faunal picture—three species of native they keep alive in the burning heat and With every wind, the contour of the roads in the evening. Inhabiting the cyprinodonts, or "desert sardines," live- dryness of summer. Moisture is con­ sand dunes is changed and the footprints rocky slopes and gorges are Nelson big­ in the waters of the monument. Their served by: Decreasing evaporation sur­ of man are erased. Winds deflected by horn sheep. Wild burros frequent the ancestors lived in Lake Manly during faces through reduction or elimination mountain ridges blow the sand in one Panamint Mountains. the Ice Age. of leaves; development of varnished or fuzz-covered leaf surfaces; or summer direction, then another, trapping the Lizards of a dozen species are often Insects inhabit the valley, but rarely shedding of leaves. Some plants com­ dunes where they stand. seen except during a short period of prove annoying. bine two or more of these adaptations, Death Valley, unique and beautiful, hibernation in winter. They range in and almost all of them have roots that as we know it today, represents only one size from the large but harmless chuck- Desert Plantlife either penetrate deeply or spread far stage in the intricate geological story walla to the tiny, banded gecko. Snakes from the plant base to tap a wide area. whose beginning was in the dim remote are comparatively rare, the valley floor past. The varied geological forces, re­ being too hot for them during the Within the boundaries of Death Valley When winter rains have been suffi­ lentless in their action, but scarcely per­ summer. National Monument, over 600 species of cient and the temperatures are favorable, plants have been identified. Only the ceptible in the short span of man's life­ More than 230 species of birds have the Death Valley spring flower show is

10 11 superb. Myriads of desert flowers trans­ The Visitor Center Sand Dunes and Mosaic Canyon. A Vi- Mahogany Flat; 7-mile trail to Telescope form the alluvial fans, washes, and day trip. Sand Dunes are best at sun­ Peak. canyons from dull gray and somber Take time to visit here early in your rise or sunset. Mileage: 1.2, Harmony brown into a riot of color. Desert sun­ stay; it is near Furnace Creek and is Borax and Mustard Canyon; 17.9, Sand flowers rise gracefully and turn their open daily. You will find the Death Dunes; 25.9, Mosaic Canyon. How To Reach Death Valley golden heads to the sun; white and yel­ Valley story told in a most fascinating low primroses paint colorful patterns on manner. The museum exhibits describe Rhyolite (Ghost Town), , By Automobile. From the south: U.S. the browned surface of the fans spread­ how Death Valley was formed and the Ubehebe Crater, and Scotty's Castle. A 6 or U.S. 395, then northeast to Death ing lazily from mountains to salt beds; plant and animal life to be found here. 1-day trip. The Titus Canyon Road is Valley through Trona; or from U.S. 66 splashes of purple enhance the magnifi­ A park naturalist is on duty and will be one way from east to west. Inquire at Barstow, northeast to Baker on U.S. cence of the spring picture. Of breath­ glad to answer questions. about condition at visitor center. Mile­ 91, north on California 127 to Shoshone taking beauty are the poppy fields shin­ Daily, on the hour, a 20-minute age: 10.6, junction road to Beatty (turn and Death Valley Junction, then west ing like minted gold, and the brilliantly illustrated program is given in the audi­ right); 33.6, junction Titus Canyon on California 190 to Furnace Creek. colored blossoms of the cactuses delight torium. During the winter season, il­ Road; 35.9, Rhyolite. Return to Titus Alternate: turn west at Shoshone through the eye. Sturdy blossoms stand for lustrated talks are given nightly. .The Canyon Road; 48.6, Leadfield (ghost Jubilee Pass. days, but some fragile plants burst their visitor center serves as monument head­ town); 51.1, Klare Springs; 59.7, main From the north: via U.S. 395 to Lone buds in a blaze of splendor and are gone quarters and the offices are open weekdays. road (turn right); 79.3, Scotty's Castle- and east on California 190 through with the setting sun. Scattered seeds lie Ubehebe junction. Left, 6 miles to Townes Pass; or from U.S. 95 via in the dust-dry soil to await the favoring Ubehebe Crater; right, 3 miles to Castle. Nevada 72 to Scotty's Castle, or south rains of some following year. What To See and Do Direct route to Scotty's Castle from to Beatty and west on Nevada 58 The most common plants in the low visitor center, 53 miles. through Daylight Pass. country are desertholly, saltbush, and Below are listed a few trips which will From the east: Las Vegas via U.S. 95 spreading creosotebush. Even these permit you to see the most in a limited High Panamint. A 1-day trip. Mile­ to Lathrop Wells, south on Nevada 29 drought-resistant shrubs are widely scat­ time. These trips originate at the visi­ age: 15.9, junction California 190 and and California 127 to Death Valley Junc­ tered on the gravelly alluvial fans so that tor center and can be made in your car road north (keep left); 31.9, Emigrant tion, and west on California 190. they do not use too much of the scanty or by use of the sightseeing service from Ranger Station; 43.2, Skidoo Road; 44.2, water supply. The beautiful Death the hotels. Aguerreberry Point Road; 52.9, Wild By Airplane. An asphalt-surfaced air­ Valley sage, known only in this region, Rose Canyon; 60.1, charcoal kilns, 61.4, strip is located near Furnace Creek. grows in shady, dry canyons. A dozen Dantes View. A 'A-day trip, preferably kinds of cactuses include the beavertail, in the morning. Mileage: AA, Zabriskie Ubehebe Crater. Brasher's Photos. Pomona. Calif. pricklypear, cottontop echinocactus, and Point; 8.4, 20-Mule Team Canyon (one holycross cholla. Among the leafy way); 17.5, Ryan Road; 25.5 Dantes perennial plants are the rare desert bear- View. poppy which has peculiar bluish foliage covered with long, white hairs, and the Badwater. A Id-day trip, preferably in wetleaf spiderling whose leaves are al­ the afternoon. Mileage: 3.1, Golden ways moist, even in the burning summer Canyon; 3.7, Mushroom Rock; 9.6, Art­ sun. Several species of mariposas bloom ists Drive (one way); 12.3, Salt Pools in the high country, along with mallows, Road; 14.4, Natural Bridge Road; 20.8, lupines, and daleas, providing a flower Badwater. show that lasts well into summer. Among the dozens of varieties of an­ . A Id-day trip. nual plants to be seen are 14 species of Mileage: 7.1, junction Badwater Road astragalus, 16 evening primroses, 17 (turn right); 16.6, Tule Spring (Ben­ phacelias, 24 eriogonums, desertgold, nett's Long Camp); 23.4, Eagle Borax and the exquisite desert fivespot. Works.

12 Gasoline and oil are available. There center and is open to tenters only. is also an 1,800-foot, CAA-approved Texas Spring Campground is about 1 gravel-surfaced landing strip at Stove mile east of the visitor center and is Pipe Wells Hotel. open for trailerites and tenters. Both camps have sanitary facilities, water, and By Railroad. A combination rail and a few tables and camp stoves. Firewood motor tour is available for Union Pacific and other supplies may be purchased at passengers, leaving the train at Las Furnace Creek Ranch. Presto-Logs can Vegas, Nev., and reaching Death Valley be bought at Stovepipe Wells Hotel. bv Riddle, Tanner, and Death Valley Several secondary campgrounds at higher Tours. elevations are recommended for summer use (sec map). Limit is 14 days during By Bus. Daily service from Las Vegas. the busy season. Nev., via Las Vegas-Tonopah Stage Lines, October 15 to May 1. Hotels and Cottages. Facilities at Wild Rose Station are operated under fran­ chise from the Government. It is a Monument Season year-round operation and consists of a store, service station, eating facilities, Death Valley National Monument is and cabins. Further information may be open to travel all year. The regular sea­ obtained by writing Wild Rose Station, Cooking northwest from Dantes View. Ansel Adams Photo. son is from about October 15 to May 15. Trona, Calif. All other hotels are situ­ Caution should be exercised while ated on private land and the National traveling through the monument in sum­ Park Service has no control over them. mer. Automobiles should be in good Operating dates arc subject to change. and Shoshone, Calif., Camp in designated localities. Re­ mechanical condition, and gasoline, oil Fred Harvey Co., Death Valley, Calif, and at Beatty, Nev. ceptacles are provided for the disposal and plenty of extra water should be ob­ operates Furnace Creek Inn (American Telephone and telegraph services are of refuse; please use them. Trees tained before entering the valley. plan) and Furnace Creek Ranch (Euro­ available only at Furnace Creek Inn and planted in the campground are for shade National Park Service rangers patrol pean plan), with cabins, store, service Furnace Creek Ranch. and are not to be cut for camphres. only the main roads in summer. stations, saddle horses, golf course, and Firewood may be bought at Furnace trailer court. Open about October to Please Help Protect This Monu­ Creek Ranch. May. ment Please carry refuse you may have in What to Wear Stove Pipe Wells Hotel is open Octo­ your car to a disposal can. Help keep ber 1 to May 15; European plan with Death Valley National Monument be­ the roadsides beautiful and clean. In the winter, everyone should bring cottages and hotel rooms. The service longs to you and to future generations. Death Valley National Monument clothing warm enough to withstand station is open all year. In summer, Use it wisely and protect it so that every­ is a sanctuary for wildlife; therefore, chilly night temperatures. Practical sandwiches and beverages are available. one may enjoy its beauty as you have. carrying firearms, other than cased, clothes and shoes are recommended for Address: Death Valley, Calif. Please do not disturb, destroy, or sealed, or broken down, or otherwise campers and hikers. Scotty's Castle has overnight accom­ deface the ruins, historical and archeo- packed to prevent their use, is not per­ modations, European plan. Open all logical remains, geological formations, mitted. year. Service station. Guide fee charged buildings, or signs. Private notices or advertisements may A ccommodations for tour of castle. Address: via Gold- Picking or injuring plants detracts not be posted or displayed in the monu­ field, Nev. from the natural beauty of the monu­ ment, unless authorized by the superin­ Campgrounds. The Furnace Creek All-year accommodations are also ment and is not permitted. Please leave tendent. Campground is adjacent to the visitor available outside the monument at all living things for everyone to enjoy. Vehicular and other traffic within

14 15 The visitor center at Furnace Creek. Death Valley National Monument is Mission 66 governed by the current State of Cali­ Mission 66 is a program designed to be fornia Vehicle Code. completed by 1966 which will assure the Drive carefully. Report all accidents maximum protection of the scenic, scien­ to the nearest ranger station. tific, wilderness, and historical resources A complete set of rules and regula­ of the National Park System in such tions may be seen at monument head­ ways and by such means as will make quarters. them available for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. There are penalties for the violation of any National Park Service regulation. Administration Park rangers are stationed at various Death Valley National Monument is ad­ points throughout the monument for the ministered by the National Park Service purpose of protecting it and giving infor­ of the United States Department of the mation. They patrol the roads, enforce Interior. The superintendent, whose the rules and regulations, and render all address is Death Valley, Calif., is in possible aid to visitors. immediate charge.

The National Park System, of which this area is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and enjoyment of its people.

REVISED 1961 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1961 0 — 616471