"But about a quarter mile south after the road juts off from U.S. Route 395, there once stood a solitary Joshua tree that became the namesake for U2's most famous album. 1987's "The Joshua Tree," a record that arguably cemented the band's legacy, owes its title to this singular tree in the desert that you can still go and see - even if it's no longer standing."
"It's likely that thousands have made the pilgrimage to visit the tree itself, even after it fell decades ago and has since been slowly decaying away, lying on its side, covered in memorabilia and artifacts dedicated to the band. But after a recent surge in tourism due to a U2 residency in Las Vegas, the landmark is in poor condition."
Highway 190 traverses a desolate California landscape of Joshua trees and desert shrubs with sparse traffic and spotty cell service. About a quarter mile south of the junction with U.S. Route 395 once stood a solitary Joshua tree that became the namesake for U2's 1987 album The Joshua Tree. The band used desert imagery for album pictures and packaging, while the album's front cover photo was taken at Zabriskie Point in Death Valley. The tree fell decades ago and now lies decaying, covered in fan memorabilia. A recent surge in tourism has left the landmark in poor condition, and two men are working to preserve it and protect it from further damage and vandalism so fans can continue to visit.
Read at SFGATE
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