Mojave Memorial Cross, War memorial in Mojave National Preserve, California, US
The Mojave Memorial Cross is a white stone monument that stands on a granite outcropping called Sunrise Rock in the Mojave Desert. The structure is visible from Cima Road and sits within a flat, rocky landscape dotted with desert plants.
The memorial was erected in 1934 by war veterans to honor those lost in World War I, with a former medic spearheading the initiative. It later became the center of a legal debate about religious symbols on public land.
The memorial shapes how the community expresses its faith and serves as a gathering point where visitors come to spend quiet moments. The white form stands out sharply against the red rocks and makes the cross a recognizable landmark of the area.
Access is via Cima Road from the north, with parking areas marked near the monument for visitors. Wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water, as the area is dry and exposed.
The original cross was stolen in 2010 and found over 500 kilometers away before reaching the Goffs Schoolhouse Museum. This event reveals how deeply the monument was rooted in people's minds.
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