Between 1883 and 1889, this iconic photo captures a 20-mule team ready for its 165-mile journey from Death Valley to the railhead in Mojave, California.
These mule teams hauled nearly 10 tons of borax ore across some of the harshest terrain in the American West. With massive wooden wagons and a convoy stretching over 180 feet, the trek was a true test of endurance, skill, and determination.
A symbol of grit and ingenuity, these mule teams moved over 20 million pounds of borax—etching their story into the legacy of the frontier.