HSUMD - Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert

HSUMD - Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from HSUMD - Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert, 230 W Ridgecrest Boulevard, Ridgecrest, CA.

The Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert (HSUMD) is dedicated to promoting a greater understanding and appreciation of the cultural history of Ridgecrest, the Indian Wells Valley, and the Upper Mojave Desert.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Open Mic Night for Friday, May 15 has been CANCELLED due to on-going roadwork on Ridgecrest Blvd.Loo...
05/14/2026

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Open Mic Night for Friday, May 15 has been CANCELLED due to on-going roadwork on Ridgecrest Blvd.

Look for the next Open Mic on Friday, May 29 at 7 pm.

SECOND MOVIE MATINEE AT THE HISTORIC USO BUILDING.The HSUMD Movie Matinee, scheduled for Sunday, May 31 at 2 pm at the H...
05/12/2026

SECOND MOVIE MATINEE AT THE HISTORIC USO BUILDING.

The HSUMD Movie Matinee, scheduled for Sunday, May 31 at 2 pm at the Historic USO Building, is a 2009 American drama film and a remake of Seijirō Kōyama’s 1987 Japanese film “Hachikō Monogatari.” The original film told the true story of the Akita dog named Hachikō who lived in Japan 1923–1935. Hachi: The film is an updated American adaptation based on the Japanese film.

This version, which places it in a modern American context, was directed by Lasse Hallström, written by Stephen P. Lindsey and Kaneto Shindo, and produced by Richard Gere, Bill Johnson and Vicki Shigekuni Wong. The film stars Gere, Joan Allen, Sarah Roemer, Jason Alexander, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. The story centers around a lost dog who is found by a professor (Gere) and becomes his loving companion for many years.

This Family-friendly film was hugely popular with moviegoers and was a box office success.

Doors open at 1:30 with our Snack Bar offering its usual taste-tempting treats: Hot Dog plate, fresh popcorn, soft drinks, coffee, candy bars and cookies and chips. For film title, you may call the HSUMD Bookstore from Wednesday to Saturday, from 11 am to 2 pm. 760-375-8456.

Hosted by the lovely Tammy Pounds.

04/25/2026

Annual Dinner and Bagdad (CA) Murder Mystery

It’s time once again for the Society’s Annual Dinner Meeting, which will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026. The featured speaker will be Steve Reyes telling us about his book Four Miles East of Bagdad(California). Doors will open at the Historic USO Building at 1:30, and dinner will be served at 2:00, with a short business meeting including Board of Directors elections following dinner, and then the presentation. The dinner menu will include tri-tip and side dishes and will be cooked by Rolando Estrada and Joe DePina and served up by the High Desert Quilt Guild and Julie Pryor. Dinner guests (that’s you!) are invited to bring a potluck dessert to share, so whip your favorite recipe, even if it involves a supermarket and a credit card. Tickets cost $20 and are available at the HSUMD Book Store in the Historic USO Building, 230 West Ridgecrest Blvd.

Steve Reyes is a volunteer at the Twentynine Palms Historical Society, and several years ago he wanted to write a story about a homicide in the area of Amboy, California. His interest was circa 1895 and during a quick search of Newspapers.com he discovered a homicide that occurred in 1896. After a reading a handful of articles he determined the suspect in the case, Luis James Searcy, was falsely accused. What followed was a series of events that led Steve to original court documents, transcripts, and two photos of the defendant. It would be impossible to capture a compelling story in a single page, and he was compelled to write a book. Four Miles East of Bagdad tells the story of three homicides that occurred in the area of Bagdad in a one-year period. The primary source documents also tell the story about life at remote railroad settlements dotting the desert in San Bernardino County. It is about crime, violence and the railroad in remote San Bernardino County in 1896. Most importantly it is the story about Luis James Searcy, a bi-racial African American hobo wrongfully accused of murder and sentenced to death.

The HSUMD meets on the third Sunday of most months. Each meeting features a presentation on some topic of local interest. Meetings are free, and all are welcome to attend. For more information on this or future meetings, call 760-375-8456 during Bookstore hours: Wednesday through Saturday from
11 am to 2 pm.

VETERANS' FREE BREAKFAST AT THE HISTORIC USO BUILDING.This coming Thursday, April 16 at 8 am. FREE to all local vets an...
04/13/2026

VETERANS' FREE BREAKFAST AT THE HISTORIC USO BUILDING.
This coming Thursday, April 16 at 8 am. FREE to all local vets and their spouses. Delicious homemade breakfast. Come early!

HSUMD APRIL MEETING: 20 MULE TEAMS.In April, thoughts naturally turn to the superbloom in Death Valley. To celebrate t...
03/31/2026

HSUMD APRIL MEETING: 20 MULE TEAMS.

In April, thoughts naturally turn to the superbloom in Death Valley. To celebrate that, the Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert's April meeting we’ll show a video on the “Twenty Mule Teams of Death Valley.” The video is another production of our old friend, Ted Faye, who, schedule permitting, will come and introduce the video. The meeting will once again be on Sunday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m. at the Historic USO Building, 230 West Ridgecrest Blvd.

The Twenty Mule Team of Death Valley tells of a time when an image of wagons and mules was synonymous with Death Valley. It was the brand for a laundry additive called 20 Mule Team Borax and it was as well-known and familiar as the golden arches are today. The company that owned the brand, Pacific Coast Borax, made sure that everyone knew what a 20 Mule Team was, that they were used in Death Valley, and that the product bearing their name would get your clothes cleaner and brighter than anything you could imagine

But how did all this get started? What is borax? What exactly is a “Twenty Mule Team”? What is the connection to Death Valley? From 1883-1888, teams of mules and wagons hauled borax out of the famed valley on the California-Nevada border. During those years, however, the teams were not famous, they were simply the “big-rig” trucks of their day. But something happened, transforming this common means of transportation into an American icon.

The video tells the story of prospectors, entrepreneurs, titans of industry, and the teams of mules and men who drove them. It’s a tale of American ingenuity, imagination, marketing and the delicate and often blurred line between promotion and “truth in advertising.” But above all, it is a tale of pursuing, achieving, and selling the American dream.

Ted Faye has appeared many times at the Historical Society, starting in 2011 when he showed a video about surveying the portion of the borax route that went through the China Lake ranges. Now living in Las Vegas and working on recording its early history, he will appear here if his filming schedule permits.

The monthly meeting now meets on the third Sunday of most months at the Historic USO Building. Each meeting features a presentation on some aspect of local history. Meetings are free, and all are welcome to attend. For more information on this or future meetings, call 760-375-8456 during Bookstore hours: Wednesday through Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm.

Still only $3 to get in (Kids under 12 FREE, when accompanied b a paying adult), Open Mic Night is still the best ent...
03/31/2026

Still only $3 to get in (Kids under 12 FREE, when accompanied b a paying adult), Open Mic Night is still the best entertainment value in town!

Come on down on Friday, April 17 at 7 pm for awesome acoustic sounds and taste-tempting treats from our thrifty Snack Bar. (Proper I.D.s required for the purchase of beer or wine.)

Ridgecrest, you rock!😊

Still only $3 to get in (Kids under 12 FREE, when accompanied b a paying adult), Open Mic Night is still the best ent...
02/01/2026

Still only $3 to get in (Kids under 12 FREE, when accompanied b a paying adult), Open Mic Night is still the best entertainment value in town!

Come on down on Friday, February 6 at 7 pm for awesome acoustic sounds and taste-tempting treats from our thrifty Snack Bar. (Proper I.D.s required for the purchase of beer or wine.)

Ridgecrest, you rock!😊

Congrats, dear friend! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!
01/25/2026

Congrats, dear friend! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

Tex Hoppus, the father of Blink-182 co-founder and bassist Mark Hoppus, was honored with the Key to the City by the city...
01/25/2026

Tex Hoppus, the father of Blink-182 co-founder and bassist Mark Hoppus, was honored with the Key to the City by the city of Ridgecrest, California. The recognition highlights his local ties and celebrates the Hoppus family’s connection to the desert town where Mark, now a famed musician, grew up. Ridgecrest is noted for being Mark’s hometown and the place where his early influences took shape before he and Blink-182 rose to international pop-punk success.

City leaders praised Tex Hoppus as a local hero whose dedication to preserving Ridgecrest’s history has had a profound impact. Through his leadership with the Ridgecrest Historical Society, Hoppus helped revitalize the Historic USO Building and preserve several important landmarks, including the original county jail, firehouse, Quonset huts, and a 1905 one-room schoolhouse that now serves as the Veteran’s Memorial Building. The honor highlights Hoppus’ effective and visionary leadership in safeguarding the city’s heritage for future generations.


Our guy, Tex Hoppus, gets a key to the city. Bravo!

Still only $3 to get in (Kids under 12 FREE, when accompanied b a paying adult), Open Mic Night is still the best ent...
01/21/2026

Still only $3 to get in (Kids under 12 FREE, when accompanied b a paying adult), Open Mic Night is still the best entertainment value in town!

Come on down on Friday, January 23 at 7 pm for awesome acoustic sounds and taste-tempting treats from our thrifty Snack Bar. (Proper I.D.s required for the purchase of beer or wine.)

Ridgecrest, you rock!

President Barack Obama has often reflected on Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, emphasizing the importance of service and...
01/18/2026

President Barack Obama has often reflected on Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, emphasizing the importance of service and equality. He stated, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" This quote highlights Dr. King's deep-rooted belief in the power of community service and justice.

Obama encourages Americans to honor Dr. King's legacy through their own service efforts, emphasizing that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere".

Make a difference in your community. Make this a day of service.

Address

230 W Ridgecrest Boulevard
Ridgecrest, CA
93555

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 3pm
Tuesday 11am - 3pm
Wednesday 11am - 3pm
Thursday 11am - 3pm
Friday 11am - 3pm
Saturday 11am - 3pm

Telephone

(760) 375-8456

Website

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