Points of Interest

AV Fairgrounds, Poppy Reserve, Western Hotel Museum, Devil's Punchbowl, Lancaster Art Museum, Prime Desert Woodland Reserve, Lancaster Performing Arts Center, Willow Springs Raceway, AV Winery, Rancho Vista Golfcourse, AV Indian Museum, Edwards Airforce Base and Lancaster Golf Center.

Clear Channel Stadium at Lancaster, CA
45116 Valley Central Way For Stadium info call 726-5400

Eastside Park/Pool
45045 N. 5th St. E. • 723-5894/723-6255

El Dorado Park
44501 N. 5th St. E. • 723-6245

Forrest E. Hull, M.D. Park
30th St. W. and L-12

Jane Reynolds Park/Webber Pool
716 Oldfi eld St. • 723-6285/723-6288

Lancaster City Park/Tennis Center
Big 8 Softball Complex
43011 N. 10th St. W. • 723-6277

Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery
44801 N. Sierra Hwy. • 723-6250

Lancaster National Soccer Center
43000 30th St. E. • 723-5964

Lancaster Performing Arts Center
750 W. Lancaster Blvd. • 723-5950

Mariposa Park
45755 N. Fig • 723-6265

Prime Desert Woodland Preserve
K-8 & 35th St. W. • 723-6230

Rawley Duntley Park
3334 W. Ave. K • 723-6295

Skytower Park
K-4 & 32nd St. E. • 723-6208

Tierra Bonita Park
44910 N. 27th St. E. • 723-6209

Western Hotel
557 W. Lancaster Blvd. • 723-6260/6250

Whit Carter Park (under construction)
Ave. H-8 & Sierra Highway

The History of Lancaster
Excerpts provided by Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

Some historians state that the name 'Lancaster' was bestowed upon the town by Mr. M.L. Wicks, a real estate developer who purchased six sections of land from the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1884 at a price of about $2.50 an acre.

Lancaster would not have been developed as it has without the influence of the Southern Pacific Railroad, which was completed between San Francisco and Los Angeles in 1876. Following the completion of the railroad and the establishment of a water stop because of the purity and accessibility, the Western Hotel, then known as the Gilwyn was built, and by 1890, Lancaster was quite prosperous.
In 1898, gold was discovered in the hills north of Lancaster and attracted scores of prospectors who staked claims that are still visible and being prospected Also, in 1898, borax was found in the mountains surrounding the Antelope Valley, sparking the world's largest open-pit borax mine.

Since the 1930's, when the first airplane was brought to the area and the Air Force started conducting flight tests at Muroc Air Base, Lancaster has grown relatively steadily. Edwards Air Force Base, famous for its space shuttle landings and has had a major impact on the local economy, and continues to with the Air Force Flight Test Center's programs.

Until it was incorporated in 1977, the area was under the political influence of Los Angeles County. Citizens in the area felt a need for better interaction with their policy making body and local control; and, with the work of the Citizens for Incorporation, cityhood became a reality. The vote for incorporation signified a new community pride as well as a commitment to exercise the traditional rights of self governance.