Home Movie: 099848 (silent)

Description: In the late 1930s, women with cars and cameras took off to explore the Mojave desert's landscape and native plant communities, following sections of Route 66 and documenting a mountain mining community before turning northwest to the great Central Valley where they documented the noted superbloom of 1938 and the phenomenon of superbloom tourism. Also with visits to the Pacific Ocean, to friends and family members at home in Southern California, and a visit to San Miguel Mission.

Article about superbloom tourism www.cnps.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/theguardian.com-The-dazzling-troubling-history-of-California-superbloom-tourism.pdf retrieved 7/2/2026

can notes:
"Trip 1937-38 / Southern Calif."

Reuse Statement: For information on reusing Prelinger Archives footage and obtaining written usage agreements, please visit www.prelinger.com.

Subjects: 1930s, Nature, Extractive industries, Road trips, Tourism, Parks and monuments, Plants, Environmental issues

Tags: mining operations; desert landscapes; panoramic views; image extends between perforations; photographer on screen; spiky plants; person with gloves poking cactus; hand poking cactus; Ocotillo; Mojave desert ecosystem; steel arch bridge; state line California and Arizona; US 66; Route 66; San Bernardino County; Colorado River sign; California coast; Pacific Ocean; light meters in use; pansies; honey bees; flower gardens; formal gardens; palm trees; camera person onscreen; posing for camera; ocean cliffs; surf; beaches; shellfish; diving in; sunsets; Western Gulls; Brown Pelican; orange groves; woman using binoculars; Carnation milk crate; woman painting en plain air; artists; painters; people looking at purple flowers; dogs; puppy walking through lupine flowers; lupin; bluebonnets; wildflowers; field of flowers; superbloom; superbloom tourism; shooting star flowers; camera shutter problems; girl picking flowers; posing for camera; Balboa Park; San Diego Zoo; iguana or chuckwalla; peacocks; gorillas; zoos; matriarchs; affection; women; multigenerational families; Mission San Miguel; California missions; Central Valley; Southern California; El Camino Real; The King's Highway; monks; friars; Catholic California; climate change;

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Contributor: Prelinger Archives

Source Collection: Unidentified Home Movie Collection PC-0434, Prelinger Archives Home Movie Collection

Digitizing Sponsor: Filecoin Foundation for the Decentralized Web (FFDW) and Internet Archive

Production Date: 1937-1938

Release Date:

Geographical Location: USA; California; Arizona; San Miguel, California

Genre/Form: home movie

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Film Format: 8mm film

Element: reversal

Color: color

Color Process: Kodachrome

Sound or Silent: silent

Film Soundtrack Type: mos

Edge Code: square circle

Frame Rate: 16 fps

Length (feet): 178