Kelso

Tucked inside the Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California, Kelso began as a purely functional place — a railroad station constructed in 1905 along the rail corridor linking Utah and Los Angeles. Its original designation was simply "Siding 16," a nod to its position on the line and to the nearby springs that made it a practical water stop. The town's eventual name came from an unusual process: the names of three railroad workers were placed into a hat, and John H. Kelso's was drawn.

Today Kelso stands as a ghost town and defunct depot, a quiet remnant of its railroad-era purpose. Visitors drawn to historic sites will find the setting within the preserve evocative, though the town's active life is long past. Photography and sightseeing are the natural draws here, with the preserved depot building serving as the primary point of interest against a stark desert backdrop.