Chloride

Description: Like so many places in the Southwest, Chloride was founded after the discovery of mineral resources (1836). Once the railroad came to the town, the population grew to over 5000. After the gold rush was over, the population decreased drastically and Chloride became almost a ghost town. Today, the town is considered the oldest continuously inhabited mining community in Arizona. Currently, about 300 residents live here. Today you can still see a few more or less authentic buildings from that time.

However, the town is best known for the Chloride Murals, which are located in a small canyon a few miles outside of town, at the foot of the Cerbat Mountains. The murals show a gracious-looking goddess as well as a mine being attacked by a supernatural being. They were painted in 1966 by Roy Purcell on 2,000 square feet of granite boulders and rock walls and are called "The Journey: Images From an Inward Search for Self." 

Our rating: Chloride is located between Kingman and Las Vegas. The murals are found about 3mi outside of town. They are reached via a dirt road. When we visited in June 2023, the road was in acceptable condition. A car with ground clearance should not have much trouble here. The place itself was not particularly interesting for us we were here more because of the murals. We liked them very much. The location is a nice break on the long drive between Las Vegas and Kingman, but not a must see.