DescriptionOccurring at the intersection of the Santa Fe Railroad, Route 66 and Bristol Dry Lake, histories of the town of Amboy in Southern California have often focused on the historic highway and its iconic motel heyday. Rarely has the town been read in terms of the dry lake and the salt industries that have operated here since before Route 66. Endeavoring to reveal an elusive landform and its effect on place, this thesis uses archival material and personal accounts to position Bristol Dry Lake in relation to the town, the transcontinental corridors that pass it by, and ongoing discussions regarding industry, preservation, water, and salt in the Southwest.