DEATH VALLEY JUNCTION, MARTA BECKET & THE AMARGOSA

At the eastern entrance to Death Valley stands a large U-Shaped adobe structure called Death Valley Junction. It began as a stop on the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad in 1906 but the present buildings didn't appear until 1924. Built by Pacific Coast Borax as a refinery and lodging for mill workers it was a small mining town until the new borax deposit was discovered near what is now Boron over 100 miles south. But the buildings weren't abandoned they were repurposed into tourist accommodations. The Amargosa Hotel opened and tourists could arrive via the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad to stay at the Amargosa or take the Death Valley Railroad to the Death Valley View Hotel or take a shuttle to the Furnace Creek Inn or camp at the Furnace Creek Ranch. It was the beginning of Death Valley tourism and Pacific Coast Borax (Now Rio Tinto Borax) owned them all. Before Death Valley became a National Park it was truly the borax valley. The gold was in tourism and it would be another ten years before the President Herbert Hoover would make Death Valley a National Monument in 1933. Over the years Death Valley Junction passed into several hands but the one that made the most of the place was dancer and artist Marta Becket. Her extraordinary art and dance programs brought a unique element to an otherwise abandoned stop on the way to Death Valley.
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Gold Creek Films
Written, Produced and Directed by Ted Faye
Nevada Humanities
Shoshone Museum
Death Valley National Park

[@dancingonhands]

Thank you so much for this!🙏🏻 Marta was an extraordinary person.❤️

[@JasonRanford]

Very interesting. ❤

[@bernardschmidt5192]

Ted, I just love watching these things about yesterday. I really think I lived 100 years too late. I stay amazed watching this stuff. And it's people like you that keep it alive. Thank you so much, and GOD bless.

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Thank you, Bernard. So very encouraging. It's not easy doing history in an "anti-history" era. But we plug on.

[@ronalds.reamssr.1805]

What a beautiful story and wish Virginia would air this very informative program especially in these crazy times.
Bravo and keep pressing on!

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Thanks, Ron. Appreciate the note. Sorry for the late response.

[@tettazwo9865]

One of the most charming places I've ever been to!

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

It has a charm for sure.

[@ponchoboss9080]

Hahahahaha i lived in the valley last January, the amargosa and the surrounding area is a place I'd only want to stop for a minute, only reason I'd go through there at all was to hit parumph Nevada or going past that vegas. Cool history, very run down and gives off weird vibes

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Well, if you lived there, you know. But what remains is fascinating.

[@lenorajames3574]

The art that was Marta Becket is unbelievably special! ❤

[@losthighway8141]

Lost Highway!

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Well, it's not exactly lost but it is remote.

[@johntroutt6004]

I hope it can survive

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

We'll see. There are some organizations which may help out.

[@erikkreinbrink4160]

@@goldcreekfilmsGCF Just went by there last week. Three cars were parked, so they have some business.