Borax Museum at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley National Park, California. This building was constructed in 1883 by Francis "Borax" Smith, founder of the Pacific Coast Borax Company. The oldest house in Death Valley, it originally stood in 20-Mule Team Canyon where it served as an office, bunk house and ore-checking station for miners at the Monte Blanco deposits. In 1954 the building was moved to Furnace Creek Ranch to serve as a museum. Photo by Kathy Weiser-Alexander.