Casa Del Desierto was built in 1911 by the Santa Fe Railroad. The building replaced an earlier one built in 1885 that burned in 1908. The historic Casa Del Desierto was considered one of the jewels of the Harvey House system. The depot closed in 1973. The City of Barstow obtained the station in 1990 and moved some city offices into the building. The Barstow Area Chamber of Commerce operates out of "Barstow Harvey House". Other tenants are the Western America Railroad Museum, which can be found on the east side, and the Barstow Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum with its entrance on the north side. The station also serves as an unattended Amtrak station with two trains a day.