Martinez Canyon Rockhouse
Also known as: Miller, Jack, Cabin; CA-Riv-4176-H
Why it's listed
Six miles up Martinez Canyon in Riverside County, California, a small two-room cabin built about 1930 shows how a desert prospector made a home from what was at hand. Jack Miller used it as the base for his prospecting, mining and homestead. The walls are poured cement in thirteen lifts with a high content of local river rock, faced with river stones set in mortar. The flat roof is tongue-and-groove planks covered with tar paper and galvanized tin, and the cabin has two fireplaces and six wooden-framed windows. Nearby are a rock and earth oven, a cement and rock forge, a garden remnant and a mule tether line. Few intact rock cabins survive in the Colorado Desert, since most have fallen to earthquakes, instability or vandalism. The cabin is judged among the finest examples of desert mining and homestead rockhouse construction, and it remains in excellent condition on public land because Miller's homestead filing described land south of the cabin.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cabin is one of the best surviving examples of rock cabins built by early 20th century miners and homesteaders in the Colorado Desert. Most such cabins have fallen to earthquakes, instability or vandalism. It was the center of Jack Miller's prospecting, mining and homestead activity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99001471, listed December 14, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | BLM, Palm Springs-South Coast Resource Area, North Palm Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Riverside County |
| Listed | December 14, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001471 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1930 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th Century American Movements/Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in overall excellent condition with minimal attention since construction; the setting has changed little. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 33.50571, -116.32601 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99001471.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q108795563
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.