Tunnels - One You Could Have Visited

California's history of the era of gold diggers did not end at the turn of the 20th century. A rather fascinating construction of a tunnel by William Henry Schmidt began in 1906 as part of his quest for mining gold. The solid granite tunnel was dug solely by Mr. Schmidt from 1960-1938 using only a shovel, pick, hammer and dynamite. However, prior to his completion, a road was constructed in 1920, Last Chance Canyon, to Mojave. Ironically, the persistent miner never used his own personal access to Mojave but instead sold it and moved away.

Five years after Mr. Schmidt passed away, in 1958, the tunnel was sold again to Milo & Evelyne "Tonie" Seager in 1963. It was "Tonie" who diligently kept the story alive, accepting visitors and their donations as she told stories. Tonie passed away forty years later, in 2003. Evelyn 'Tonie' Seger, 95; Keeper of Tunnel in the Mojave Desert That Became a Tourist Draw - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

Current ownership of the land is in dispute between the Federal Bureau of Land Management and Evelyn daughter and a caretaker. The BLM has stated the Schmidt Tunnel and associated surrounding land is an unpatented mining claim under the General Mining Act of 1872, which reverts ownership back to BLM under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 "upon the death of the grandfathered claimant, Evelyn A. (Tonie) Seger, who had possessed the claim prior to 1976". So while the BLM claims ownership from 1996, prior to Evenlyns death, it seems family members and a caretaker did challenge it. 'BURRO SCHMIDT' | Tunnel Site in Kern, Calif. | Evelyn Seger | located in 1906 | CAMC45878 | The Diggings™

The story of the tunnel, with various gleaned antidotes, has been featured on Huell Howsers show, Ripley's Believe it Or Not, History Channel, and numerous Youtube videos. The 2,087 foot long "Burro Schmidt Tunnel" is still accessible by way of road...if you have a 4WD/AWD but may be considered trespassing onto Federal Property as it is a designated National Park. NPGallery Asset Detail (nps.gov)

Currently ongoing construction of illegal tunnels at the San Diego border surpass the sole and legal efforts of William Henry Schmidt....but that is another article.

Tunnel Network in Gaza: Does California Have A Risk? | San Fernando Valley News Portal (town.news)

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