Humans have thrived in the Joshua Tree area for millennia. Positioned at the convergence of several traditional Native American homelands, these communities developed expansive knowledge and skills needed to live successfully in a challenging environment.
Cattlemen and miners established a permanent presence in the late 1800s, followed by waves of homesteaders and others. These new communities did much to change the area physically and culturally. Adding Joshua Tree to the National Park System in the 1930s protected this portion of the desert from modern development and attracted visitors looking to experience the desert.
Joshua Tree National Park acknowledges the Serrano, Cahuilla, Mohave, and Chemehuevi people as the original stewards of the land on which the park now sits. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work with the indigenous people in this place. We pay our respects to the people past, present, and emerging who have been here since time immemorial.
Native Peoples
Serrano, Cahuilla, Chemehuevi and Mohave communities settled around springs, harvested the land, and developed deep knowledge of the desert.
New Industries
Mining and ranching changed how people used the land around Joshua Tree.
Homesteaders
The Keys family’s Desert Queen Ranch illustrates the best preserved story of early 20th century desert homesteading in the park.
Modern Legacy
Since 1936, the desert has welcomed the National Park Service community, military trainees and visitors ranging from climbers to sightseers.
Last updated: August 7, 2023