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While this year’s winter season has been relatively warm thus far, the Antelope Valley can and has seen much cooler winters in the past. Because Lancaster is a high desert with an elevation of approximately 2,356 feet, snowstorms are not outside the realm of possibility. This picture captures local children participating in a snowball fight on the northwest corner of 10th street and Antelope Avenue on December 29th. Photo courtesy of MOAH Collections

During the early 20th century, approximately every twenty miles of the Southern Pacific Railroad line would be assigned to a specific “section gang” whose job it was to ensure that the track was adequately repaired and maintained. In this picture, the Lancaster section gang poses along the railroad line before heading out to work for the day. The Lancaster section gang of 1902 was primarily composed of Mexican, Italian, and American workers. Pictured in the rear left is Jim Foster, who served as the Lancaster section gang foreman. In October of 1902, Mexican section workers in Acton coordinated what was possibly the Antelope Valley’s first organized strike. The railroad workers struck for a daily wage of $1.60; the same amount paid to their Anglo counterparts. Photo courtesy of MOAH Collections

This picture, taken in 1890, is quite possibly the oldest existing photograph of Lancaster. Central to the photograph is a segment of the Southern Pacific Railroad line, which connected San Francisco to Los Angeles. The construction of this line was a fundamental moment in the settlement of the Antelope Valley. Local railroad work brought workers from diverse backgrounds, as well as infrastructure (including roads, water stations, stores, and housing). By 1885, Lancaster had a blacksmith, two active wells, and a “tent city” which primarily housed railroad workers. At the time this photo was taken, Lancaster was in the middle of its first boom. To the far left of the photograph is the Lancaster Hotel, which was later destroyed by a fire in 1914. Located in the far distance, and to the immediate left of the train tracks, is the old train depot. Across from the train depot, and to the right of the train tracks, are a windmill and large water tower. Photo courtesy of MOAH Collections

Lancaster’s first post office was a small house situated on the northwest corner of 11th Street and Antelope Avenue, the present-day equivalent of Milling Street and Sierra Highway. William Baylis is the first known postmaster, recorded in 1884. Mrs. Ford became postmistress in 1889, one of the first federal jobs open to women. Her husband was an architect and the preacher at the M.E. Church, and they lived next to Lancaster’s first grammar school. In November 1891, the local paper reported: “All passenger trains passing through Lancaster now take in and put off mail at this place. We now have four mails a day.” The second post office was in the home of J.F. Dunsmoor, postmaster from 1897 to 1913. It was located on the south side of 10th Street just east of Beech Avenue, and old-timers have reported this being the center of life in Lancaster around 6 p.m. when the mail came. In 1914, the post office moved into the Leo Harris General Merchandise Store at the southwest corner of Antelope Avenue and 10th Street. Harris, a popular merchant and civic leader, was one of the first prominent Jewish residents in Lancaster. The Gottschalk’s-Harris Department Store, previously located in the AV Mall, was part of the Harris family chain. Eventually, this third post office was no longer adequate to service the growing population and it was time to move again. Photos courtesy of MOAH Collections

As the town of Lancaster grew, so did the school population. An impressive two-story red brick structure, complete with a bell tower, was constructed on the south side of 10th Street between Beech and Cedar Avenue, across the street from the Gillwyn Hotel (present-day Western Hotel Museum). This became Lancaster Grammar School and was occupied in early 1890. Built for $3,950 by local builder and brick-maker, O.B. Allen, the school became the hub of the community with Sunday church services, dances, Christmas pageants, elections, political meetings, town hall meetings, plays, picnics, and assorted social gatherings. By 1911, there were four teachers and 100 pupils; therefore, another new school was needed. A future school was to be built on Cedar Avenue, and the building was used for many different purposes, including a temporary high school (1914-15), the Chamber of Commerce, a library, and a Masonic Hall. In 1933, a major earthquake hit Long Beach. The Lancaster Grammar school became heavily damaged and in 1934, this piece of Lancaster’s history was demolished. The new Lancaster Grammar School was completed in 1914 on Cedar Avenue. The school was eventually torn down in the 1950s, aside from the north wing and the auditorium, which the school district still uses today as a warehouse. It was also within the auditorium that Mrs. Mollie Bloom Flagg organized the Lancaster Woman’s Club in 1922. She served as its first president, and by 1929, there were approximately forty members. Photo courtesy of MOAH Collections

Ezra "Struck-It-Rich" Hamilton (1833-1914) was a Civil War veteran, serving two years in the Union Army, as well as a prospector and inventor. After the war, Hamilton worked in carpentry and farming, which led to his first patent for a peat-pressing machine in 1867. Mining has been an important industry in the Antelope Valley since the late 1800s. Ezra Hamilton was the first pioneer to strike gold in the area in the 1890s. Ezra had been working in Los Angeles manufacturing pottery, clay pipes, tile, and bricks which led to his purchase of Tropico Hill. Before the development of Rosamond, Tropico Hill was being mined for clay by Dr. L.A. Crandall who obtained the land in 1882. Ezra renamed the site "Hamilton Hill" and discovered gold during his course of clay-mining activities. The portrait of Hamilton on the wall was taken shortly before his death (c. 1914) at Willow Springs, a town he founded and developed. Rumor has it that Ezra once had so much excess gold that he made a whole set of teeth out of gold nuggets! Having changed names again, the then "Lida Mine" was sold to the Antelope Mining Company in 1908, and again to the Tropico Mining and Milling Company in 1909. Eventually, the mine was acquired by former employees of the company, the Burton brothers, in 1912. Photo courtesy of MOAH Collections

The word "Mojave" is Spanish for "Hamakhava" (or "Hamakhaaav"), the name of the Native American nation on the Colorado River. Mojave was founded on August 8, 1876, when workers began laying tracks on the Southern Pacific Railroad route from Bakersfield to Los Angeles reached the community's present-day site. This photograph shows Mojave railroad workers during the 1890s. Photo courtesy of MOAH Collections

For as long as humans have inhabited the Antelope Valley, Joshua (or Yucca) trees have coexisted alongside them. In 1857, a group of Mormons were passing through the Mojave Desert on their way to Salt Lake City. As they traveled, the arms of the Yucca trees appeared to be pointing and guiding them toward their destination. Therefore, they began calling them "Joshua" trees after the man who led the Israelites into the Promised Land. In this photograph, students from the Second Lancaster Grammar School spend their recess sitting in a large Joshua tree located at the rear schoolyard. The Second Lancaster Grammar School, first occupied in early 1890, was built by resident O.B. Allen. Photo courtesy of MOAH Collections

During the 1930s, Lancaster served as the commercial center of the Antelope Valley. Tenth Street and Antelope Avenue in particular featured many businesses during the early 20th century. The picture below depicts Tenth Street on a busy weekend afternoon during the early 1930s, with both sides of the street lined with cars and the sidewalks bustling with people. Tenth Street continues to fulfill several necessities and services for Antelope Valley residents. Photo courtesy of MOAH Collections

Dark Progressivism: The Built Environment delves into the impact the manmade landscape has had on the residents of Southern California: housing projects, commercial developments, freeways, the Los Angeles River and the Metro system. Dark Progressivism is an artistic style that developed organically out of graffiti and tattooing, consciously and unconsciously influenced by German Expressionism, film noir, typography, and the design elements present in Southern California. Participating artist and LA TACO senior photographer Erwin Recinos brings you a look at opening night of this exhibit… Artist and K2S member Joe “Prime” Reza in front of his piece at the opening. Prime also contributed a “street-corner” installation inside the museum for the exhibition. Stunning set of pieces by artist Carlos Ramirez, using signage mixed media to create a stylized installation. Artist Gajin Fujita and photographer Steve Grody chopping it up during the opening. A detailed look at Jaime Scholnick and her stylized acrylic painting style. Artist Juan Carlos Munoz Hernandez with his contribution to the exhibition. Musician Leafar Seyer of PRAYERS next to his piece for opening night. “213” collab between photographer Jim McHugh, Prime and Big Sleeps. Mixed media including collaged 8×10 polaroid stills. Street scene from the city of Boyle Heights painted by artist Manuel Lopez. Dark Progressivism curator Rodrigo d’Ebre talking about the origins and ideas behind the exhibition. 6th Street Bridge survey by photographer Estevan Oriol before it’s destruction in early 2016. A unique light painting construction by Lynwood based artist Felix Quintana. On the title card of the exhibition is this painting by Michael Alvarez. I was told this painting took just over a year to create. The color and depth wonderful. Installation in the museum hall by artist Prime which is made set in place for visitors to contribute to during the life of the exhibit at MOAH. Dark Progressivism: The Built Environment will be on display til January 14th 2018. Two upcoming events coinciding with the exhibition: Art & Science Discussion Panel on Sunday December 10, 2pm. Dark Progressivism Zine Fest on Sunday January 7, 12pm – 5pm. Follow @darkprogressivism for more information and details about the upcoming events.

The Antelope Valley is known to some as “America’s Aerospace Valley” due to its long history of aeronautical achievement and success. While the Antelope Valley has played host to many famous aeronautical feats, none are more famous than the flight of Charles “Chuck” Yeager, who made history as the first person to break the sound barrier on October 14th, 1947 when he flew from what is now Edwards Air Force Base. Aeronautical companies like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Scaled Composites have developed a large presence in today’s Antelope Valley. These companies, in addition to the continued presence of Edwards AFB and USAF Plant 42, have helped to preserve the local legacy of aeronautical innovation, achievement, and success. Yeager is pictured below, posing in front of the “Glamorous Glennis,” the Bell X-1 aircraft which he broke the sound barrier with. Photo courtesy of MOAH Collections

In 1910, Clifford Corum and his wife, Effie, settled near what was then Rodriguez Dry Lake. By the early 1900s, "Rodriguez" had been anglicized into "Rodgers," which was then shortened to "Rogers." Rogers Dry Lake is the primary resource associated with and responsible for establishing Edwards Air Force Base and the Dryden Flight Research Center (now known as the NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center) making it the scene of important developments in the history of aviation. Not long after, the community needed a post office. The first name submitted was "Corum," however it was refused due to a similarly named town that already existed. In 1911, Effie reversed the spelling of their name and Muroc was founded. Today, the community is known as Edwards Air Force Base. In this photograph, Effie (center), Clifford (far right), and other family members are shown standing near a well. Photo courtesy of MOAH Collections