Blue Sky Resort
In 1855, Colonel Henry Washington, nephew of George Washington and a desert surveyor, was the first to explore and document Twentynine Palms. In the early 1850s, he was commissioned to survey multiple regions across the U.S., including Florida, Colorado, and California.
He encountered Native Americans—primarily from the Chemehuevi tribe—living near a spring they called "Mar-rah," meaning "land of little water." This spring is now known as the Oasis of Mara, located on the grounds of the historic 29 Palms Inn, near the Joshua Tree National Park Headquarters and Visitor Center.
The area was originally inhabited by Native American groups including the Serrano, Chemehuevi, and Cahuilla. In the 1870s, gold prospectors arrived. The Oasis of Mara became a vital campsite for these adventurers, who referred to the region as "Palm Springs."
Local Native Americans guided prospectors to nearby gold sites. This led to mining activity in what would become Gold Park and the Dale Mining District. Gold mining persisted intermittently until World War I, after which it declined due to the lack of new ore discoveries.
Gold Park was originally located east of Utah Trail and later moved to the current location of the Twentynine Palms Inn. The Gold Park Hotel, built in the 1920s, included wood-frame cabins that now form part of the area's historic charm.
By the 1920s, Twentynine Palms began developing as a desert homesteading community. Many World War I veterans, especially those suffering from respiratory conditions like tuberculosis (partly due to mustard gas exposure), sought healing in the dry desert climate.
Dr. James B. Luckie, a physician from Pasadena, identified Twentynine Palms as an ideal location for healing due to its moderate elevation, dry air, and proximity to urban centers. He helped encourage veterans and their families to settle the area. The U.S. government offered 160-acre land parcels to these homesteaders, shaping the expansive boundaries of the city.
The city was officially incorporated on November 23, 1987. Early infrastructure, like two-rut roads, began appearing in 1927, followed by the establishment of schools and other civic amenities.
Today, Twentynine Palms offers:
29 Palms Historical Society Museum
6760 National Park Drive
PO Box 1926
29 Palms, California 92277
