Park Service plans Kelso Depot grand opening

HIGH DESERT

San Bernardino Sun

The National Park Service will hold a grand opening ceremony for the renovated Kelso Depot on March 25.

The event, open free to the public, will begin at 2 p.m. at the historic depot, located 35 miles south of Baker on Kelbaker Road. It also can be reached by driving 22 miles north of Interstate 40 on Kelbaker Road.

Built in 1924 by Union Pacific Railroad, the depot has been transformed into the Mojave National Preserve's main visitor center. It also contains a museum, theater and bookstore.

The depot will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with tours and field trips starting at 10 a.m. on March 25.

Light refreshments will be served, park officials said.

Visitors who have old photographs of the depot are invited to share them and have them scanned for others to enjoy.

For more information, call the preserve headquarters at (760) 252-6101, or visit the preserve's Web site at www.nps.gov/moja.