California Story Fund
Jackrabbit Homestead
Twentynine Palms Historical Society
Twentynine Palms
Project Director: Kim Stringfellow
This project will gather and share audio stories of residents of the Morongo Valley Basin area, many of whom homesteaded in the desert region during the mid-20th century as a result of the Small Tract Act, which made small parcels of so-called useless federal land available for private ownership.
“The goal of the project is to share the unique and underrepresented history and significance of the jackrabbit homesteading experience,” said Project Director Kim Stringfellow. “We also want to share the stories of the current wave of artists, architects and other creative people reclaiming the area.
The project will include a website, a self-guided audio tour available for downloading, maps showing locations of homesteading cabins and an essay by geographer Jacob Sowers about the historical geography of the region.
The project will conclude with a free lecture, a presentation of the audio stories and community discussion.