Explore the History of Goffs Schoolhouse in the Mojave Desert

The Mojave Desert Heritage Association is a captivating museum that displays the rich history of the Mojave Desert. It boasts an extensive collection of mining and railroad artifacts, vintage automobiles, Route 66 memorabilia, and military exhibits. The museum comprises two main buildings: Goffs Schoolhouse and a replica of the historic Goffs Santa Fe Railway Depot. This exceptional museum is worth a visit if you are traveling across the Mojave Desert.

Goff’s Schoolhouse Museum

The Goffs Schoolhouse was constructed in 1914 by the County of San Bernardino. It is a one-room mission-style desert school that serves as a local community center. During its 23 years as a school, the building hosted dances and was a library. The Goffs Schoolhouse has been restored and operates as a museum and gift shop.

Ten Stamp Mill

This ten-stamp mill replica is currently publicly displayed at the Goffs Schoolhouse Museum. The mill was last used commercially in the 1950s to crush ore into powder for metal extraction. The Mojave Desert Historical and Cultural Association Museum in Goffs, California, houses two operational stamp mills, the 10-stamp American Boy Mill and the 2-stamp Stotts Mill.

Mojave Road School Bus

This 1940s school bus, riddled with bullet holes, was abandoned over 40 years ago along the old Mojave Road, which was a must-see attraction for travelers. The Mojave Desert Land Trust removed the bus from the Mojave Road and transferred it to the Mojave Desert Heritage Association, where it is displayed at Goffs.

Goffs Santa Fe Depot

The Mojave Desert Archives Library is housed in a reconstructed Goffs Santa Fe Depot. The original depot, built in 1902 at the junction of the Nevada Southern Railroad and the Santa Fe main line through the Mojave Desert, was demolished in 1956.

Mojave Memorial Cross

On the night of May 2010, the cross was stolen from its place on Sunrise Rock in the Mojave desert. The Veterans of Foreign Wars promised that the memorial would be rebuilt. On May 20, 2010, park rangers discovered that a replica of the cross was now bolted to the base of the original cross. Park personnel removed it since the replica is not the original disputed cross; it had to come down. Half Moon Bay, California, the original cross, was found over 500 miles away in November 2012. The original cross was donated to the Mojave Desert Historical and Cultural Association in 2022. It was finally erected at the Goffs Schoolhouse Museum in 2024, further cementing its importance in history.

The “squashed bug” was initially located in Torrance and now resides in Goffs, California.

Nature Trail at the Mojave Desert Heritage Association

Goffs Schoolhouse is located at Lanfair Road near the intersection of Goffs Road and Lanfair Road in Goffs, California. It is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  For more information, visit the Mojave Desert Heritage Association website.

Mojave Desert Points of Interest

Amboy Crater Loop Route 66

If you plan a road trip along Route 66, you may want to take the Amboy Loop. There are several points of interest along the way. Our journey starts in the town of Ludlow after taking the exit from I-40 in California. Points of interest include Amboy Crater, Roy’s Motel & Cafe, Guardian Lions of Amboy, the Roadrunner Cafe, and Essex, California ghost town.

Mojave National Preserve

The Mojave National Preserve is situated in the heart of the Mojave Desert and was established in 1994 under the California Desert Protection Act. It is a must-visit destination for any outdoor enthusiast and an excellent place for the whole family to spend quality time together. Visitors can explore the desert landscape, which spans nearly 1.5 million acres and features majestic mountains, scattered rocks, desert washes, dry lakes, and various indigenous vegetation that covers the desert floor.

Daggett, California, Almost a Ghost Town

Daggett is ten miles east of Barstow, California, on Interstate 40. Calico Ghost Town is seven miles north of Daggett on Daggett-Yermo Road. As you can see, Daggett has a rich history, from a booming mining camp to Ghost Town. This little desert town is worth a look while visiting Calico Ghost Town.

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