Mural in Lone Pine, CA--Photo Richard Elliott
Art tells a story. Sometimes viewers do not understand the purpose behind an artwork. The Wedding of the Waters mural, in Lone Pine, CA, tells a majestic story. The mural is an exacting portrayal of the 1937, three-day pageant, celebrating the completion of the highway linking Lone Pine to Death Valley–the State’s highest point, Mount Whitney, 14,495 feet, to the lowest spot, Badwater, 282 feet below sea level. Father John Crowley felt that the highway’s momentous completion called for an equally unique pageant of celebration.
The stylish spectacle featured the transport of a large water-filled gourd, from Lake Tulainyo, near Mount Whitney, to Badwater, using each historical mode of transportation in the State, from foot-to-flight, and ending with the dumping of the gourd’s contents into the waters of Badwater, slightly over 100 miles distant. Many big-named luminaries of the time, from Governor Frank Merriam to Western movie star William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy) participated in the spectacle, along with many other historical representatives attending, in period costumes.
The October 29, 30 and 31 pageant began with the gourd being carried on foot by an Indian runner, taking it to a waiting Pony Express rider, on day one. The next day, the water was delivered to a prospector with his mule, who took it to a 20-Mule Team wagon, which transported the gourd to an old stagecoach, taking it onward to a steam train bound for Keeler, CA. On Day 3, the water continued its journey, carried in a new 1938 Lincoln Zepher car to an airplane waiting in PanamintValley. The plane flew the gourd over Telescope Peak, to Death Valley and Badwater, where the water ceremoniously ”rained” from the heavens to the surface waters of Badwater. Thus, a successful ending for the Wedding of the Waters pageant.
So everyone along the route, from Lone Pine to Badwater, would know the waters were successfully merged, signal fires were sent rising toward the skies from Badwater, Dante’s View, Telescope Peak, Cerro Gordo and Mount Whitney. With The Wedding of the Waters completed, it was time for a joyous wedding reception, in Lone Pine.
Also on Day 3, the official ribbon cutting and dedication occured near Darwin Road, about mid-way along the route. Here was the newly completed 18-mile section of highway, linking Lone Pine and Death Valley. At 11:30 AM, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a signal, via telegraph, to open the highway. In true Wild West fashion guns were fired and three bullets split the blue ribbon. The highway officially opened.
According to Kathleen New of the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce, the Wedding of the Waters mural was painted two years ago.
“Local artist Kerry Powell coordinated the (mural) project, along with several local artists contributing their talents,” New said.
Although October marks the 75th anniversary of the Wedding of the Waters pageant, “There are no celebration plans for 2012,” New said.
To learn more about the Wedding of the Waters pageant and Father Crowley’s devoted services to the people of the Mojave Desert, read the book Desert Padre–The Life and Writings of Father John J. Crowley 1891-1940, by Joan Brooks, Mesquite Press, 2008.
On your next visit to Lone Pine, take time to view the mural and absorb its story behind the Wedding of the Waters.
Hidden in a sandy pocket of the Mojave Desert lies this unusual bottle cap (see above photo). This curious looking cap, with its strange emblem, appears like it belongs to some secret society or was left by some thirsty aliens from space. To those in the know, the cap is from a bottle of premium ale, known as Pyramid Ale. Obviously some [...]
Back in the 1920’s, the Pacific Borax Company transformed Furnace Creek Ranch, in Death Valley, into a desert oasis, by planting 1,800 date palms. Today, they remain standing tall–truly an oasis in the Mojave Desert of Death Valley National Park. The palms began producing dates in the 1930’s. According to the flier, “Date Palms,” published by Death Valley National Park, most of these palms are of [...]
