The story of boom-time prosperity begins at Harmony Borax Works, a historic ore-processing plant in Death Valley National Park. Explore the preserved remains of the old refinery and learn about the region’s mining history. See an example of the 20-mule team wagons that became icons for the industry.
Wander around the Harmony Borax Works site, which is now a preserved ruin amid the rolling valley foothills. Throughout the site are several plaques that will help you interpret the artifacts and structures on display. Learn about borax, or “white gold,” which was first discovered in this region in 1881. William Tell Coleman and Francis Marion Smith made a claim on the deposits of borax and began their large-scale mining operation in the valley.
Between 1883 and 1888, Harmony Borax Works employed 40 miners who could produce 3 tons (2.7 tonnes) of borax in a day. This product was hauled out of Death Valley to the nearest railway in Mojave by the use of 20-mule team wagons. The image of a cart led by a team of 10 pairs of mules has become an icon of Death Valley and its mining history. Check out an example of one of these carts at the Harmony Borax Works site.
Look for more ruins in the distance, which may have been miners’ quarters or offices. Gaze out across the otherworldly landscape and imagine how it would have appeared during the late 1800s, when the borax refinery was in full operation. The Harmony Borax Works collapsed before the start of the 20th century. Today the site is preserved by the National Park Service.
Find Harmony Borax Works in Death Valley National Park, a short distance north of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. It is 23 miles (38 kilometers) southeast of Stovepipe Wells. If you’d like to stay in the area, check out the resorts and campgrounds in nearby Furnace Creek. This area has history museums, a golf course and a gas station. Harmony Borax Works is open daily for free however, there is a fee to enter Death Valley National Park.
