Thursday, September 11, 2014

Old Cars of Joshua Tree National Park

In my opinion, the National Park Service should be applauded for leaving things "as is". Case in point: The old cars you can find throughout Joshua Tree National Park. They could have elected to haul them off, but instead they've left them intact as part of the Park's history.
One can only marvel at why someone was driving a car in a totally remote and unforgiving area back at a time when the nearest paved roads were probably at least 50 miles away?
Not to mention that cars of yesteryear were much more likely to overheat or blow a tire than cars of today.
These cars were all seen on the relatively short hike to the "Wall Street Mill", an old mining operation in the Park near Barker Dam.
Given the large size of Joshua Tree National Park, it makes me wonder what to total abandoned car count is? I'm guessing it's a large number!
This last one is, I think, my favorite. I like all the Joshua Trees, boulders, and beautiful sky in the background!
Joshua Tree is a magical place from a photography point of view! Linking with Skywatch Friday. Click on the link to check out great skies from around the world.

46 comments:

  1. Oh these are magnificent. I had no idea there were that many abandoned cars out there in Joshua Tree. Six more shots like these and you have yourself a calender you could sell. Probably just old guys who like cars would be your only customers though.

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  2. wow. likewise i had no idea about these abandoned cars in joshua tree. the more i'd like to visit now.


    My SKYWATCH

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  3. What a marvelous set of images. The old cars are a special treat, but the back drop of the park and the sky are just stunning. Really nice work. Have a blessed week-end.

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  4. Wow, cool images



    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^= . <3 . >< } } (°>

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  5. Wow, now I'm really intrigued about those cars. I agree that it was a great decision not to move them out of the way. I've seen lots of images of Joshua tree but I have never heard a thing about the cars.

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  6. Fabulous shots! The cars look like works of art.

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  7. These old cars are like rusty sculptures, beautiful works of art. I love your photos! Incredible scenery too.

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  8. I agree with you about the beauty of these old wrecks, though I can think of many who would disagree. If there were too many of them they would lose their appeal though.

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  9. Your images make looking at old cars a joy, wonderful series of shots and skies.

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  10. Great set of pic's. I also wonder who have abandoned those car's and what had happened next. Still beautiful to see.

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  11. Those abandoned cars become attractive photography objects in the park.
    Enjoying your shots, especially the last pic.
    www.womenandperspectives.com/2014/09/the-beauty-of-savanna.html

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  12. Fabulous old vehicles.....the disintegrating tyres look very interesting .....and the chrome on the headlights still shines!

    Happy weekend!

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  13. Gorgeous photography of the abandoned vintage cars and the beautiful state park vistas ~ for SWF!

    artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

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  14. I'm sure those footprints weren't all yours, so these are obviously a photographer's delight! The earth is slow to reclaim these vehicles.

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  15. What a fascinating place, and great images too. Thanks for visiting.

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  16. Those are truly fantastic shots of the remains of those old cars.
    It must be fascinating to make a ride overthere. Thanks for sharing this beauty!

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  17. ~sigh~ these are fabulous! Love these!

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  18. I agree. I'm so glad that the old cars were left to be claimed by nature. Interesting photographic subjects.

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  19. I think I just lost my comment....
    Beautiful photos! I also think it's great that they have left them alone. They are a big part of the history here.
    A thought: The truck in the first photo is actually a car that was converted. The green truck in the third photo, is missing its bed. I wonder if the bed was moved to the vehicle in the first photo.

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  20. Things last forever out there on the desert; we were amazed at these examples as well. Wonderful pictures. Reminds you that not all adventures end well! Gosh, I am old enough to remember how my dad would have to stop and put water in the overheated engine whenever we drove somewhere out of town. There were watering stations specifically for that purpose in the farm and hill country surrounding our hometown. And that was a lot nearer to civilization.

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  21. What stories must be attached to each of these cars! Your photos are absolutely fabulous, and to my English eyes very exotic, the combination of sky. landscape and the cars like the bones of an animal - you have an artist's eye!

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  22. Those vehicles look very old, your images are beautiful and interesting!

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  23. They're definitely fun and photogenic.

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  24. Very good subject matter ! Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are !

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  25. Wonderful photos, and the last has a big WOW factor.
    Have a nice day,
    Mormor

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  26. Wow ! It became a kind of museum of old cars !

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  27. This is an amazing collection The Park Service did the right thing. These cars are part of the history.

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  28. This is so fascinating! I so wish I can go there someday!! Have a great weekend!

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  29. OMG, how long are they here...?!
    Spectacular photos!

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  30. How intriguing! If only these old cars could speak, I'd love to hear their stories of how they ended up in such a final resting (parking?) place. Your photos are terrific - the natural scenery is spectacularly beautiful all by itself, of course - but I must say, those old car remains provide a most interesting touch of beauty of their own to the scenes, really adding to the mystery and hauntingly beautiful desolation of the place. Wonderful post!

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  31. What splendid composition and artful processing of these images of the old cars! It really stimulates your imagination to ponder the personal adventures and tragedies of those who ventured there so many years ago.

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  32. Beautiful photography! I would love to go there someday, it's two of my favorite things combined! I adore nature and there's something endearing to me about old, broken down cars & buildings.

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  33. Again amazing photos. I love the subject of this post. Oh that we knew the stories of these cars.

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  34. Amazing shots ... and it's a wonderful place to visit with a camera! Love old cars like that!

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  35. That 4th and last pic are fantastic!

    And why can't they make cars like that these days, too? They had so much more character back then.

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  36. What a cool collection, I love these old cars.. happy weekend!

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  37. Those are really cool shots - I love to see how the tires seem to be unraveling. And gorgeous skies to boot! Thanks for sharing these :)

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  38. What a great looking wreck! And your right, it would have been some effort to have got the car there in the first place!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  39. I love seeing all these wrecks!! I don't see a lot of rust on them, but I love the burnished effects on the metal!

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  40. I want to visit this park even more! I agree, the wrecks add to the sense of being in the desert.

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  41. All of your photos are quite stunning, but I agree that the last shot is my favorite, too. I think it's great the cars are there. Certainly makes for some great photography. You really know how to capture their essence.

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  42. oh my gosh, i love these! i didn't know there were abandoned cars there but it does remind me of my husband telling me something about finding an old car out there once (we were stationed at 29 palms back in the 80's)...awesome shots! they really tell a story!

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