Discover the deep roots of the Indian Wells Valley and the Mojave Desert
The Kawaiisu and Shoshone peoples inhabited the Indian Wells Valley for thousands of years before European contact. Their deep knowledge of the Mojave Desert — its seasons, plants, and water sources — sustained thriving communities across this arid landscape.
The Coso Range near Ridgecrest contains one of the largest concentrations of rock art in North America — over 100,000 petroglyphs carved into the volcanic rock face, dating back at least 16,500 years. These images depict bighorn sheep, shamanic figures, and ceremonial symbols, offering a rare window into the ancient spiritual life of the Mojave.
Established in 1943 during World War II, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is the United States Navy's largest single landholding — spanning approximately 1.1 million acres, or roughly 85% of all Navy land used for research, development, testing, and evaluation.
The station was created to meet the urgent wartime need for a remote testing range far from enemy attack and civilian population. The isolated Mojave Desert provided the vast airspace and restricted ground space needed to safely develop and test aircraft weapons systems.
Today, NAWS China Lake is responsible for over 30% of all Navy research and development work and remains the primary economic driver of Ridgecrest and the Indian Wells Valley.
NAWS China Lake Official Site →As workers and military personnel flooded into the Indian Wells Valley to support the new naval station, a civilian community rapidly grew alongside it. What began as a collection of military housing and contractor offices became a full-fledged city.
Ridgecrest was officially incorporated in 1963. Situated at 2,300 feet elevation in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills, the city enjoys a high desert climate with clear skies, warm summers, and mild winters. Today it is home to over 28,000 residents and serves as the commercial hub of the Indian Wells Valley.
The Maturango Museum was founded in 1961 to preserve and interpret the natural and cultural history of the northern Mojave Desert and the Indian Wells Valley. Named after the Kawaiisu word for the area, it has grown into one of the region's most important cultural institutions.
The museum hosts rotating art and science exhibitions, a renowned natural history collection, and — most famously — guided petroglyph tours into the restricted Coso Range within NAWS China Lake. These tours offer a rare glimpse of one of the world's richest rock art sites, accessible only through the museum's permitted program.
Visit Maturango Museum →On July 4 and 5, 2019, Ridgecrest was struck by a M6.4 and then a M7.1 earthquake — the largest seismic events in Southern California in over 20 years. The community responded with resilience, and the city rebuilt stronger with improved infrastructure and emergency preparedness.
Rising from the shores of Searles Dry Lake just west of Ridgecrest, the Trona Pinnacles are ancient tufa formations ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 years old. These otherworldly spires have served as a backdrop for countless films and commercials, and are designated a National Natural Landmark.
BLM Trona Pinnacles Info →List your local business and reach visitors discovering our desert city
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