Site information:

Trona Rd at Center St, Trona

35.757686,-117.377346

Plaque information:

State plaque

Plaque text:

Searles Lake Borax Discovery

Borax was discovered on the nearby surface of Searles Lake by John Searles in 1862. With his brother Dennis, he formed the San Bernardino Borax Mining Company in 1873 and operated it until 1897. The chemicals in Searles Lake, which included borax, potash, soda ash, salt cake, and lithium, were deposited here by the runoff waters from melting ice age glaciers. John Searles' discovery has proved to be the world's richest chemical storehouse, containing half the natural elements known to man.

Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in cooperation with the Death Valley 49ers, the American Potash & Chemical Corp. and the West End Chemical Division of Stauffer Chemical Corp. November 8, 1962.

Registered 8/16/1962