This image is the cover for the book Barstow, Images of America

Barstow, Images of America

This book tells the story of Barstow, a town born along the enigmatic Mojave River in the middle of the formidable Mojave Desert, nurtured by countless (and mostly nameless) fortune seekers and adventurers and settled by plain folks looking for something they could not quite name. Their footprints became the foundation for a trail, a road, a railroad, and, over time, part of the most legendary highway in the country: Route 66. The early arrival of an important centralized railyard, two major military installations, and spectacular silver and borax mining projects led the population to grow and thrive. Through this collection of photographs, Barstow's fascinating history is brought to life.

Christine Toppenberg, Donald Atkinson

Author Christine Toppenberg arrived in Barstow with her intrepid family in 1949 as homesteaders on the slopes overlooking the Mojave River valley and opened one of the many little café joints along Route 66. Christine has written for local area newspapers, and she writes here with an unconditional love for Barstow and the Mojave Desert. Coauthor Donald Atkinson is a 55-year resident of the High Desert. He is the photo-technical advisor for the project and is a dedicated, creative photographer with 45 years of experience providing memorable images of the Mojave Desert.

Arcadia Publishing