Death Valley 20 Mule Team

Death Valley was so remote that the mineral borax had to be hauled out by 20 Mule Team. The transportation method wasn't unique or unusual. It had been used around the west since the 1870s. And now in 1884 20 Mule Teams would be used to haul borax from Death Valley to the railroad at Mojave 165 miles away. Mules were preferred for desert hauling as they are pound for pound stronger than horses, have more stamina, can go longer without water and quite frankly, are about 30% smarter than their equine cousins. The story of Death Valley's 20 Mule Team is one of legend and lore. They never would have been very famous if it hadn't been the soap that later carried their name. Long after the mules had stopped hauling in Death Valley from the Harmony Borax Works, Pacific Coast Borax named their soap 20 Mule Team Borax. The giant wagons became legendary and tales of heroic muleskinners and tireless miners were the stuff of newspapers, radio, television and the movies. Today the 20 Mule Team hauls exact replica wagons of the Death Valley Borax Wagons. More on that coming soon.
Subscribe - bit.ly/3gYt5Iy
Facebook: bit.ly/2PRPoDL
#borax#desert #mules #deathvalley #mojave #nativeamerican #gold #borax #nevada #california #history
Gold Creek Films
Written, Produced and Directed by Ted Faye
Nevada Humanities
Shoshone Museum
Death Valley National Park

[@GrayPlayer]

You can watch the complete build of the entire 20 Mule Team wagons and water wagon on Engle's Coach Works out of Joliet, Mt.

[@kathywilliamson1826]

We supplied the mules and wagons for a 20 mule team for the Rose Parade in Pasadena back in 1990. The fun part was teaching the mules to jump the chain when turning those 90 degree corners on the route

[@GrayPlayer]

I wondered about that! Every thing went so smooth, expect there were moments!

[@chrisshelp1172]

These teams & wagons were used to haul Borax. The stuff you buy in the grocery store. The box says TWENTY MULE TEAM BORAX. Well it's not a lie. It really did take twenty mules to that borax wagon. Borax is very heavy. I've s laundry going for those of you that live in areas that have hard water. When you do your laundry& add your laundry soap, add 1/3 cup of Borax to your washing. It's a natural water softener & your clothes will come out a lot cleaner. I live in an area with hard water & my Mom (God give her rest) told me to do this when I had terrible getting my clothes clean. My clothes used to look a little grey instead of clean. Since I started using Borax my clothes lost that grey color.

[@mercedithcompala8148]

Love this story

[@user-up9iq7ic8z]

Way Back when 20 Mule was on TV. i got the Model ..... Great TIMES .......

[@cw4608]

A nice group of Belgium cross mules.

[@gaorilla]

Had the opportunity to visit death valley last month!! Really interesting

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

So glad! Death Valley is amazing. Glad you had a chance to visit!

[@lostbuffalo196]

Very informative. Thank you

[@jessehaaland7689]

18 mules..and a dozen roses!

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Well, 18 mules and something. Usually 2 horses.

[@jamesjames1716]

WOW! Great video about history.

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Thank you! Stay tuned for more.

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

these type wagons were used in egypt 5000 years ago

[@toolscarriagesmodellbauand7246]

Thats an interesting story you tell. I#, a german Scale-Modell Maker and I'm still working on a 1:18 Scake Modell of the 20 Mule Team Wagon Train.Have a look into my playlists Best wishes from Germany

[@JOwens-rl2qr]

.

[@b.a.k.2683]

There must been a lot of dust for the driver.

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

No doubt the mules kicked up a lot of dust.

[@johnwood551]

He didn’t shout hyah , he shouted Gee -Haw right and left.

[@stephanmenzel9457]

Lächerlicher Kommentar von Dir. Als gelernter Berufsfahrer fuhr ich Mehrspänner aus Deutschland, Frankreich, Polen, Ungarn und Russische Troika's. Ich kann ich Dir sagen, daß sich jedes Pferd und erst ein Mule auf neue Namen und neue Kommandos einstellt. Völlig egal, ob Beefsteak oder Kölnisch Wasser...

[@californiadreamer2580]

​​@@stephanmenzel9457Yes, very true! They learn from their regular drivers. Some will say huh, some will say haw, some will also say left or right.

[@williamogilvie6909]

All those mules hauling borax a long time ago. Where can you buy borax now? It used to be widely available.

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

It still is. Most grocery stores still carry it. Here it is at Target: www.target.com/p/mule-team-borax-all-natural-detergent-booster-38-multi-purpose-household-cleaner-65oz/-/A-13315486

[@williamogilvie6909]

@@goldcreekfilmsGCF I know about that. I don't think that stuff is pure borax. I use borax as a flux when brazing Silver. I used to buy it in 10# bins. That stuff looks completely different from the detergent product.

[@عادلالشعلانالغامدي-ك9ل]

هاذي جميعها المنتجات والصناعات تمت عادل. اشواء فكرته احد غيري ." ".".

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

I tried to translate and I'm not sure I did it right. But yes, this is 20 Mule Team Borax products.