Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. 11 historic topographic surveys show this location, the earliest from 1931.
“The Desert View Tower is located on Interstate 8, in Boulder Park, in western Imperial County, Southern California. It is also adjacent to remaining sections of Old U.S.”
Wikipedia article Desert View Tower, CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of 4 National Register listings published here for Imperial County · listed in 1980 · category: Site.
Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service
The ground this property stands on, surveyed 66 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 99 fires within 5 miles of Desert View Tower between 1992 and 2020, burning about 852 acres in total. 6 started naturally. 2 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 47 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 22 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 10 |
| Firearms and explosives use | 7 |
| Natural | 6 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 2 |
| Fireworks | 2 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 1 |
| Debris and open burning | 1 |
| Smoking | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.5 acres | San Diego Unit | JACUMBA 2 |
| 3 September 2003 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | California Desert District | BORDER 8 |
| 26 September 1993 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | San Diego Unit | BRAKE #2 |
| 26 September 1993 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | San Diego Unit | BRAKE #1 |
| 20 September 1997 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | San Diego Unit | TOE |
| 2 September 2014 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | California Desert District | CARRIZO |
| 2 September 1999 | Recreation and ceremony | under an acre | California Desert District | BORDER 92 |
| 18 September 1994 | Fireworks | 10 acres | California Desert District | JOSHUA |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 50 workings within 5 miles of Desert View Tower: 15 occurrences, 15 past producers, 13 prospects, 5 producers. 5 still produce. What was taken out: Tungsten, Feldspar, Gold, Manganese. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atomic Flat Group | Uranium, Thorium | Prospect | ||
| Chain Prospect | Tungsten, Marble, Dimension | Occurrence | Marble | |
| Circle Group Deposit | Vermiculite | Past Producer | ||
| Dos Cabezas Mine | Gemstone | Prospect | ||
| Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Jumbo Clay | Clay | Past Producer | Sedimentary | |
| Mcguffie Foundation Deposit | Pumice | Past Producer | ||
| Mica Gem Group | Mica, Silica, Tungsten | Past Producer | ||
| Pk Mine | Tungsten, Gold, Silver | Past Producer | ||
| Southern Star Claim | Zinc, Lead, Silver | Prospect |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Ocotillo, the town this property stands in, in 8 storm reports between 2007 and 2024: 7 flash flood, 1 flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2023 | Flash Flood | Ocotillo | $20,000 | A couple rounds of heavy rain resulted in considerable flooding and the closure of Hwy-98 between S2 and Brockman Rd. Along Hwy-98, 2 vehicles became stuck in a flooded wash, with one occupant having to climb out onto their roof. No injuries were reported and the extent of damage to the vehicles is unknown. Timing was adjusted based on radar. |
| September 2022 | Flash Flood | Ocotillo | $5,000 | Several incidents occurred between the Mountain Springs and Ocotillo area due to flash flooding. Large rocks were reported falling onto I-8. Significant water flow was reported along Meyer Creek wash, resulting in several roads which intersect the wash to become impassable. Highway 98 was closed between Imperial Highway and Drew Road due to the flooding. A mesonet station in Mountain Spring reported 2.67 inches with 1.02 inches falling in one hour. No injuries were reported. |
| January 2024 | Flood | Ocotillo | - | State Route 98 closed between County Highway 2 and Brockman Road due to flooding. No damages or injuries were reported. |
| August 2024 | Flash Flood | Ocotillo | - | SR-98 closed between Imperial Highway and Brockman Road due to flooding with several vehicles hydroplaning on the road. No damages nor injuries were reported. |
| August 2023 | Flash Flood | Ocotillo | - | According to Caltrans, Highway 98 near Ocotillo was closed due to flash flooding. No injuries were reported. |
| September 2023 | Flash Flood | Ocotillo | - | Evan Hughes Hwy was closed due to considerable flooding between S2 and Dunaway Rd. No damages or injuries were reported. Timing estimated from radar. |
| September 2007 | Flash Flood | Ocotillo | - | Portions of Highway 80 and Interstate 8 near Imperial became flooded.| |
| August 2007 | Flash Flood | Ocotillo | - | State Route 78 was reported flooded. |
United States Geological Survey topographic sheets whose coverage includes this point. Matched by taking the coordinate the National Park Service records for this property, then testing that coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet.
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 80000801 in Record Group 79. |
| Wikipedia article | Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA. |
| Imperial County | All 4 listed properties in this county. |
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