The Harmony Borax Mine is a National Historical Place inside of the Death Valley National Park. Borax deposits were discovered by Aaron and Rosie Winters in 1881 and the mineral rights were acquired by William Coleman. Production of Borax at the works began in 1883. Coleman had unique wagons designed to carry the Borax to the nearest railhead in Mojave California. It could get up to 130 degrees in the desert and Mojave was 165 miles away. This made for a hard journey. 20-mule teams were used to haul two box cars and a water tank. They were in service from 1883-1889; but their legacy ives on through marketing.
Coleman ran the operation until 1888 when his business collapsed. It was then taken over by Frank M "Borax" Smith. The company became the Pacific Coast Borax Company with the brand: 20 Mule Team Borax. Mining continued at the site until 1907. Since then a larger mine in Boron has supplied the need for Borax. Borax is used in soaps.
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