The Mojave Desert was first inhabited by the American Indian until Catholic Priest, Father Francisco Garces traveled what was called the Old Mojave Trail in 1796. Father was the first recorded European to travel and explore the terrain. In 1844, Captain John C. Freeman and frontiersman scout Kit Carson were first to visit what is now the Fort Irwin National Training Center establishing camps along the Old Spanish Trail. In 1846, with the California Gold Rush, Indian war