Historic U.S. Highway 91 - California Travel Information
Historic U.S. Highway 91
U.S. 91 is a former U.S. route that started at the intersection of the Pacific Coast Highway and Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach. Heading due east along with Alternate U.S. 101 (now California 1) on the southbound Pacific Coast Highway, U.S. 91 turned north on current California 19/Lakewood Boulevard. At Carson Street, U.S. 91 turned east, continuing along Lincoln Avenue until reaching the Santa Ana River Canyon (and the California 91 freeway) near the California 55 interchange. Paralleling today's California 91/Riverside Freeway, U.S. 91 angled northeast through Corona and Riverside, and it merged onto northbound U.S. 395 en route to San Bernardino. Picking up U.S. 66, U.S. 91-395 headed through the Cajon Pass, and U.S. 66-91 carried onward to Victorville and Barstow via Oro Grande and Helendale. Northeast of Barstow, U.S. 91-466 angled toward Las Vegas; that route was supplanted by Interstate 15. With the exception of some sections of U.S. 91 in the Los Angeles Basin and a two-mile segment in Barstow, the rest of U.S. 91 was duplicated by another U.S. route.
U.S. 91 North
Heading north out of downtown Barstow, U.S. 91 immediately crosses the rail yard at Barstow. This bridge, constructed in the early 1930s, had to accommodate an ever-expanding rail yard as train operations continued to grow. Today, trains constantly flow through town, making Barstow a hub of rail activity. Photo taken 03/20/04.
View of the bridge truss along northbound U.S. 91 as it crosses the rail yards in Barstow. Interestingly enough, the city ended up settling on the east side of the tracks rather than close to the Mojave River. Oftentimes, cities grow from their proximity to the water, but not in this case. Photo taken 03/20/04.
After passing over the rail yards, the bridge swings due north, and the highway descends to the Harvey House turnoff. Photo taken 03/20/04.
Northbound U.S. 91 at the turn off for the Harvey House, U.S. 66 Historic Museum, Railroad Museum, and depots. The highway only remains on the ground briefly, and U.S. 91 prepares to cross the Mojave River on a separate old bridge. Photo taken 03/20/04.
View of the U.S. 91 Mojave River bridge as seen from the parking lot for Harvey House, looking north. Photos taken 03/20/04.
The white, wooden guardrail of the Mojave River bridge remains in place along U.S. 91. Also built in the early 1930s, this bridge remains largely unchanged since it was constructed. Photo taken 03/20/04.
Northbound Old U.S. 91 at Junction Old California 58 northwest of Barstow. Old California 58, which was previously U.S. 466, heads west to Bakersfield and the Central Valley. U.S. 91-466 and California 58 head northeast toward a junction with Interstate 15. Photo taken 03/20/04.
After passing by the U.S. 91-466 intersection, the distances are to Yermo and Las Vegas, both of which are U.S. 91 destinations. But the last city listed, Needles, is the control city for eastbound Interstate 40! This was because many travelers from the Central Valley were continuing east on Interstate 40 after leaving behind California 58. Photo taken 03/20/04.
Since California 58 is something of an extension of Interstate 40, for a time travelers had to use this two-lane road to make the connection to Interstate 40 via southbound Interstate 15. Now that the California 58 freeway connection has been completed south of Barstow, traffic from California 58 to Interstate 40 does not have to use this interchange. However, signs from that era remain. Photo taken 03/20/04.
The old alignment of the highway would have taken U.S. 91-466 directly northeast from this point, but it was realigned to accommodate an interchange with Interstate 15. Photo taken 03/20/04.
Now reaching Interstate 15, U.S. 91-466 historically followed Interstate 15 north toward Baker and Las Vegas. The section of Interstate 15 freeway between U.S. 91-466 and Interstate 40 did not exist, and all through traffic had to take U.S. 91 over two bridges to reach this point. Photo taken 03/20/04.
U.S. 91 South
This view shows the truss bridge that carries U.S. 91 over the Santa Fe rail yards, looking southeast toward downtown Barstow. Photo taken 03/20/04.
Now on the northeast side of the bridge, looking south, a train begins to pass under the historic U.S. 91 bridge over the rail yards in Barstow. Photo taken 03/20/04.
U.S. 91 - Other Pictures
The Harvey House, also known as the "Casa del Desierto," faces the large rail yard in Barstow. Most recently used as part of a Greyhound and Amtrak depot, the Harvey House still contains two museums - one dedicated to U.S. 66 and the other to railroads and trains. Photo taken 03/20/04.
Built in 1911, the Harvey House was at one time operated by Fred Harvey. The house was used by travelers and employees visiting the area and in need of a place to stay. Photo taken 03/20/04.
View of the promenade on the south end of the Harvey House, looking north. The rail yard is to the right, while U.S. 91 is located to the left. Photo taken 03/20/04.
Views of the U.S. 91 bridge over the rail yard. Photo taken 03/20/04.
