Goffs Schoolhouse Museum and Cultural Center Monthly Open House Events
The Mojave Desert Heritage & Cultural Association announces monthly
open house events at the Goffs Schoolhouse for 2003 - 2004. The
Schoolhouse and adjacent Cultural Center grounds will be open for
public visitation the first weekend of each month from October
through June 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. (Specific weekends are: 4-
5 October, 1-2 November, 6-7 December, 3-4 January, 7-8 February, 6-7
March, 3-4 April, 1-2 May, 5-6 June)
The Goffs Schoolhouse was constructed in 1914 and served the region
until 1937, at which time the present school was built in Essex and
the Goffs School abandoned. It is one of the few remaining structures
in Goffs located on the original 1926 alignment of U. S. Highway 66.
The school served the needs of families of railroaders, highway
people, miners, and ranchers.
The Schoolhouse was restored to its 1914 configuration by the
Association in 1998. Some work is ongoing, but it is now fitted out
with displays of artwork and artifacts depicting the cultural history
of the Mojave Desert. There are many artifacts (old vehicles, mining
machinery, and much more) on the adjacent grounds. To facilitate
public visitation, the Association has published a "Guide to the
Goffs Cultural Center" booklet for the convenience of visitors which
is keyed to 40 numbered stations inside the Schoolhouse and about 100
numbered pegs around the grounds. With the aid of this interpretive
booklet, visitors can spend several hours enjoying the displays on a
self-guided basis. Picnic areas are available for visitors.
On October 11, 2001, the Goffs Schoolhouse was placed on the National
Register of Historic Places by the U. S. Department of the Interior.
It is one of the few buildings along old U. S. Highway 66 in
California and the only one-room schoolhouse in all of southern
California on that prestigious national register.
The Mojave Desert Heritage & Cultural Association was formed as a
nonprofit tax-exempt corporation in 1993 with a mission to: "Research
and educate the public with the natural and cultural history of the
Mojave Desert regions through operation of a regional research center
including a library and archives, restoration of historic buildings,
interpretation of backcountry trails, publication of educational
guide books and historical monographs and periodicals in concert with
government agencies and people of good faith everywhere."
The Mojave Desert Archives, situated in buildings adjacent to the
Goffs Schoolhouse, embraces more than 6,000 volumes pertaining to the
history of the Desert west, more than 700 taped oral history
interviews conducted with desert "old-timers" with firsthand
knowledge, more then 40,000 historical photographs of the Desert
west, 4,000 historic maps, and much more. These materials are in
special collections that are made available with advance arrangement
to qualified students and writers doing in-depth research on the
Mojave Desert.
The Mojave Desert Heritage & Cultural Association is a nonprofit tax-
exempt corporation. No charge is made for admission to the
Schoolhouse and adjacent property, donations are welcome.
To get there. From the direction of Barstow take I-40 east about 110
miles to a point one mile east of Fenner Rest Stop and exit the
Interstate where a sign says "Goffs Road." Turn left under the
freeway bridge and follow blacktop Goffs Road for 11 miles to Goffs.
From Needles or Las Vegas Area take U.S. Highway 95 south (from
Searchlight) or north (from I-40 up out of Needles) to the point
where 95 crosses the main line of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Railway. Turn west on Goffs Road (south of the tracks) and travel 14
miles to Goffs.
The Schoolhouse is on the North side of the tracks at the
intersection of Goffs and Lanfair Roads -- for a positive
identification, there are two windmills on the Goffs Schoolhouse
property, the only ones in Goffs.
Special arrangements can be made for visitation to the Schoolhouse by
groups or at other times during the year by appointment. For
additional information contact the Association at 760-733-4482 -- or visit the Association's web site at
www.mdhca.org.
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