See Bert Smith's Rock House, Mojave National Preserve, California

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Rock House cabin at Rock Spring. "Mojave National Preserve. National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. Rock House. While fighting in Europe during World War I, Bert Smith was exposed to poison gasses used during that war. Returning to the U.S. with scarred lungs, Bert eventually moved to the Mojave Desert in the late 1920s. When Bert built his Rock House and started living here in 1929, it was a desperate attempt to regain his health. Although he expected to survive only a short time, he lived here until 1954 -- 25 years later! Bert Smith (left) with fellow World War I veterans Joe Molik (center) and Ray Whitmore (right). Smith kept a small herd of goats -- the pen is still standing on the far side of the driveway. The New York Mountains are to the north. Desert artist Carl Faber. Artist Carl Faber had already been living rough in the East Mojave for about ten years when he set up his art business at the Rock House in 1981. Four-wheel drive trips had become a popular activity and Carl took advantage of passing traffic to sell his art. After five years, Carl moved to another nearby property and continued his art business there until 2003, when he moved to New Mexico. A lot of people that came by there.... were...professional people, making good money, and I can't tell you how many times I've been told that they envied me for my lifestyle...they would have liked to live like that. -- Carl Faber. There's a pit toilet here.

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