California Historical Landmarks in Inyo County
California Historical Landmark 773
Harmony Borax Works
State Route 190 at Mustard Canyon Drive
Death Valley National Park
On the marsh near this point borax was discovered in 1881 by Aaron Winters who later sold his holdings to W. T. Coleman of San Francisco. In 1882 Coleman built the Harmony Borax Works and commissioned his superintendent J. W. S. Perry to design wagons and locate a suitable route to Mojave. The work of gathering the ore (called 'cottonball') was done by Chinese workmen. From this point processed borax was transported 165 miles by twenty mule teams to the railroad until 1889.
California Registered Historical Landmark No. 773
Plaque Placed by the California State Park Commission in Cooperation with the Death Valley '49ers, Inc. and the National Park Service, November 10, 1962.