The Cornelia White House

 

 The Cornelia White House (1893)

The Cornelia White House was built in 1893, and is made entirely of "recycled" railroad ties taken from under the Palmdale Railroad's tracks. The rail line was short-lived and had been abandoned by 1893 due to lack of water. When the development failed, Welwood Murray salvaged the wood that was left in the desert and built a bungalow that he used at the Palm Springs Hotel — the first hotel in Palm Springs. Cornelia White bought his hotel in 1914 and the bungalow became her home.

Cornelia White, was born in 1874, and left the family farm in Utica, N.Y., when she was 18 to set out on her own. Mis Cornelia traveled Europe, Arctic Circle, sailing up the Nile River, joining a mining expedition in the Pacific Northwest, farming fruit in Mexico, she was widely known for her love of adventure finally settling down at the University of North Dakota. There, she taught practical domestic-science courses like plumbing and carpentry, highly unusual for a woman circa 1911. 

Her journey with her sisters, and friend from North Dakota, Carl Lykken would land her here in the desert, where they were all early and notable settlers in the village of Palm Springs.

Knowledgeable and personable curators are always on hand to answer questions - and if encouraged they probably might have a story or two to share.

 

Hours Open: 
10:00am - 3:30pm - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Closed on Tuesdays 
Sunday 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Free admission
Free parking behind museums