Michelle Mowery on top of the Yellow Aster mine in Randsburg, Calif. 1964!!


The GOLD that brought this section of the Mojave Desert into sudden fame and fortune and made it one of the roaring gold camps of California was discovered in 1895 at the base of the Rand Mountains. This site later became the town of Randsburg. The discovery became the Yellow Aster Mine and the area was named the Rand, from Witwatersrand, the large and famous mining district near Johannesburg, South Africa.

One mile around the hill from Randsburg lies Johannesburg, laid out as a townsite in 1897. The miners had been living in tents and shacks in Randsburg, back to back, due to lack of space. There were many fires from cigars on wood floors in taverns, bar-room brawls, cardboard construction of shacks,etc. The men decided to build a town for housing their families, the women and children, who had been living estranged from their fathers and husbands for two years.

A railroad was built from Kramer Junction to Johannesburg, in 1897, branching off of the Sante Fe Railroad. The service ended in 1933. The St. Charles Hotel building stands, beside the Visitor Center, on highway 395, and on the corner of The Rand street. The King Solomon Mine still stands overlooking Johannesburg, near the famous Johannesburg cemetery up on the hill.

A mile south of Johannesburg lies the little ghost town of Red Mountain, named after the big Red Mountain, which lies behind the town, which began in 1919, when silver was discovered. The principal mine, called the Kelly Mine, over a period of seven years yielded $13,302,000. For many years and in particular during prohibition days, the town indulged thirst and passion. There were dozens of bars and more than that of little cribs, where the ladies of the evenings separated the miners from their gold.

The museum in Randsburg houses some of the ore samples and artifacts and enshrines some local heroes of yesteryear. One may look about and see the old mines whose gold and silver enriched the treasuries of the world and invested the hills with glory. The desiccated headframes, the mill buildings, wracked by wind and rain mark the fields uponwhich the miners fought against abdurate nature and emerged in victory or defeat.

On these streets, where now the dune buggy, the camper, the motorcycle glide in curious tour, once the sound of horses' hoofs heralded the arrival of wagons loaded with supplies for the camps or their departure with ores for some mill. Randsburg suffered three fires in its early days, but many of the old buildings still stand, and depict an era that but few can remember.

The Rand area was wrought from gold, silver and tungsten. Some activity in tungsten at Atolia area has occured in the past few years; but the gold and silver mines have been inactive for many years except for the Yellow Aster, which is on lease to a Canadian mining operation. During the past twenty years retired people are seeking permanent residences in the dry, desert climate and escape from the crowded cities. The area population now may be 300 people, may be!

Johannesburg was named after Johannesburg, South Africa, and many of the streets were named after the South African Generals. Randsburg was named after Randburg, South Africa, because the gold discovered here was similar in color to that of the So. African gold, so the story goes.

Many stories are told regarding the old towns, and more facts are availavle through the local museums. Tourists enjoy their visit to the area with much enthusiasm, fun and frolic. And most people return again and again.

A spectular panoramic view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is seen from Johannesburg.