Visiting the Harvey House in Barstow, CA

Recently, Shannon and I took a road trip to Las Vegas and I’m so excited to share all the awesome discoveries I made there. But, as in all road trips you’ve got to make a pit stop every once in awhile. Food, drink, restroom breaks and sightseeing! I’d like to say sightseeing is as important as the others but I supposed that would be exaggerating a bit.

About halfway through the dessert is the city of Barstow. Through the years my visiting has extended only as far as the McDonald’s but this year a historic marker caught our eye: The Harvey House.

Ok. The Harvey Girls with Judy Garland is one of my favorite movies.

It’s the story of a group of girls who head into the wild west and work as Harvey Girls in a whistle stop town. Lots of fun and romance. But did you know the Harvey Girls really existed? They were waitresses at the famous Harvey Houses that lined the train routes throughout the US. And one such Harvey House was located in Barstow.

You can visit it today and although it is still a train stop the restaurant no longer exists. Instead it’s a visitor center/museum of sorts. There’s not a whole lot to see but what’s there is worth a visit.

Aren’t these light fixtures amazing? I’ve never seen anything like them before.

And there’s a fun mockup of the station master’s living quarters. In the corner you can see a mannequin dressed in a Harvey Girls uniform.

Not too different from the film version.

Outside there’s a bunch of historic train cars on display.

There’s actually a train museum on the premises but we were unfortunately there before it opened.

Visiting the Harvey House is a great way to get out and stretch the legs on a road trip. You’ll see some interesting things and learn a bit of history, too.

681 N. First Avenue

Barstow, CA 92311