Quartzsite, Arizona - Is There More Than Just Rocks?

Quartzsite, Arizona, is known for its rock and mineral shows which run from the first week in January until the end of February. It is also a great stopping and refuelling point if you are travelling along the I10 from Arizona to California or visa-versa.

The Quartzsite sign upon entering the small town has a very Egyptian look with camels and a pyramid.

This quirky town though does have more to offer if you are inclined to do some exploring.

Hi Jolly’s Monument and Cemetery

Hi Jolly’s Monument and Cemetery is one of the most visited historical monuments in the state and is dedicated to Hadji Ali – better known as Hi Jolly, a Syrian camel driver brought over by the US Army in 1856.

At this time, Dromedary Arabian camels, which are camels with only one hump, were imported to replace the mule trains.

A pyramid grave monument with a camel shape on the top in the middle of the Quartzsite cemetery.

These animals could carry 1.000 pounds of freight, travel 65 miles daily, and go without food and water for three days, making them ideal for the southern Arizona climate.

With the Civil War ending, the camel train, due to budget cuts, became obsolete and the camels were either sold or transported to Yuma and released.

Hi Jolly bought some camels and ran a successful freight service between the mining towns.

Black and white image of a man who lived in Quartzsite in the 1800s — “Hi Jolly”

Born somewhere around 1828, Philip Tedro, his given name on becoming a US citizen in 1880, passed away in 1902. His ashes and those of his favourite camel are interred in the pyramid monument at Quatrzsite Cemetery.

Celia’s Rainbow Gardens

Large flat rock on end with a small rainbow and the words Celia's Rainbow Garden with a small picture in a heart shape of a young girl. — The Entrance to Celia’s Rainbow Garden

Celia’s Rainbow Gardens is a community-driven botanical garden planted in Ceila Winer’s memory. She passed away in 1995 from a viral infection at the tender age of 8 1/2. Her wish and goals in life were to make the world a better place.

Close up of a heart shaped image with a young dark haired girl smiling on the surface of a rock.

Over the years, the garden has grown into a shrine of remembrance. Statues, benches, trees and shrubs have all been planted for the memory of those dearly departed.

A small brick wall topped with tiles of hand prints and initials of the children in the town of Quartzsite.

Tyson Wells Stage Coach Stop

A wood sign with a small horseshoe on one side and a s shaped pice of wood on the other with painted words that read Tyson's Well Stage Station Arizona Territory.

Tyson Wells Stage Coach Stop (museum) is an original adobe building that has been lovingly restored and now holds artefacts from the bygone mining era. Charlie Tyson built this stage stop in 1866, and the well nearby he dug by hand.

Inside an old building that is now a museum with old photographs of early days in Quartzsite — Tyson Wells Stage Coach Stop Museum

A room is set up to look like a schoolhouse in early Quartzsite with a mannequin dressed up as a teacher — School

This was an essential stop on the Ehrenburg to Prescott line offering grass and water for horses. It also housed the post office, and a grocery shop, then later incorporated the Oasis Hotel.

A mannequin dressed up as a shop keep in a early rendition of a store with items on the back shelf — Grocery Shop

Tyson Wells ORIGINAL TOWNSITE OF QUARTZSITE

Some petroglyphs on the side of a rock face in a wash just outside of Quartzsite — Petroglyphs at Tyson Wash

Tyson Wells was the original townsite and name of Quartzsite. Initially, the area was an old fort built by Charlie Tyson in 1856 as protection against the Indians. After a massive flood washed the buildings away, the town was moved to its current location.

Man and woman squatting down and looking into the entrance of a small natural opening in the rocks — Peering into one of the many caves at Tyson Wash

Native American grinding holes and petroglyphs can be seen on the other side of the wash. Legend has it; somewhere buried in the sand lies a large safe filled with gold.

Close up picture of an old Native American grinding stone that is approximately 8 inches deep in the rock face — Native American grinding stone

In 1890 the town was renamed Quartzite, after the rock found in the area. But there was a clerical error, and the ‘s’ was added.

MINING CABINS AND REMAINS

Hundreds of miles of off-road trails take you into canyons, along mountain passes and through washes. Mining remains litter the surrounding areas, and old miners’ cabins can be seen dotting the stark desert landscape.

Gold Eye Mine

Remains of an early mining operation on the edge of Quartzsite. Cement columns can be seen as well as an rusted conveyer system

This area is intriguing. There are two old buildings to mooch around and plenty of artefacts to look at. Although we’re not sure about the significance of all those toilets.

Row of old toilets converted into flower pots line the edge of a gravel berm with large Rocky Mountain in the background

The remains of a stone structure that has no roof that is filled with artefacts found all around the property of this old mining operation just outside Quartzsite

This stone cabin was once the home to Lehre Harold Erdman, a miner of 63 years at this very site.

Close up look at the keystone over the entrance way of a building that is inscribed with the date of 1947 with an upside down horseshoe and a sun emblem — Keystone dating 1947

The keystone above the door dates the building to 1947. Although now roofless, it holds many of Erdman’s personal belongings, and his grave is located just in front of his old dwelling.

Lots of old cooking pans and utensils, a typewriter with other various old electronics that are weathered by the elements all placed inside an old rock structure — Artefacts found in and around the cabin

Headstone with the picture of a man in a hard hat that reads in memory of Lehre Harold Erdman 1909 - 1996. Flower pots line the bottom — Memorial for Lehre Harold Erdman

Erdman passed away at the age of 87, spending most of his life mining this small claim.

The skeletal remains on an old head frame for a mining operation sits on the rocky desert landscape with tall Rocky Mountains in the far distance — Headframe

Apache Chief Mine Cabin

A small one room stone structure with a picnic table and a chair sitting in the shaded side of the building

We were unable to find out the history of this cabin. There was little to no factual information online; about when it was built and by whom. That will have to remain a mystery to us.

Nonetheless, it was a great place to stop and explore.

Various items are left on a small table including a typewriter in disrepair a coffee mug, beer bottle, shock off a vehicle.

A makeshift grave sitting on the rocky ground with an old pair of sneakers hat and gloves placed around to look like a body is laying under the stones

Gold Nugget Mine Cabin

There are several stories from the old-timers about the Gold Nugget Mine Shack. One such tale speaks about the old widow who stashed her gold within the cabin walls. Maybe that’s why fortune hunters have severely vandalised this place.

Very worn stone house with the roof starting to cave in sits on a very rocky landscape on a bright sunny day without and clouds in the sky — Front of the gold Nugget Cabin

Another story is that the old widow didn’t trust anyone in Quirky Quartzsite and secretly took her gold to nearby Yuma.

Whatever the case, this cabin has unfortunately been destroyed by people even though it is still privately owned.

Different view of the stone structure with a large cement patio that has weeds growing out of the cracks

QUARTZSITE, ARIZONA – IN A NUTSHELL

Located just off Interstate 10, approximately 25 miles from Blythe, California.
The population is approximately 3,700. Throughout the months of January and February, it is estimated that two million people descend on Quartzsite during the rock and mineral shows.
Once a small stagecoach stop and watering-hole for travellers on the Ehrenburg to Prescott line during the mid to late 1800s.

OUR EXPLORATION OF QUARTZSITE, ARIZONA

LOCATION MAP

Map showing the location of Quartzsite Arizona just off the 10 freeway. — Location Map of Quartzsite, Arizona

Now Get Out There, Go and Explore, and Put Another Pin In The Atlas

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Quartzsite, Arizona – Is There More Than Just Rocks?

Hi Jolly’s Monument and Cemetery

Celia’s Rainbow Gardens

Tyson Wells Stage Coach Stop

Tyson Wells ORIGINAL TOWNSITE OF QUARTZSITE