Death Valley Scotty with his long telescope, ca.1926

Photograph of Death Valley Scotty with his long telescope, ca.1926. He stands in profile facing left. His right hand is on the eyepiece of the long telescope, the large end of which rests on the ground. His left hand is propped against his waist. He is clean shaven and wears a large hat. A tent and camping gear is visible behind him. In the background small brush-dotted hills are visible.; "Walter Scott, AKA Death Valley Scotty, was born in 1872. As a young boy he ran away from his Kentucky home to join his brother on a ranch in Nevada. After working numerous jobs in the area, he traveled the world for 12 years with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. Scotty convinced several wealthy businessmen to invest in his Death Valley gold mine, which he assured them, was worth millions. Albert Johnson, a Chicago insurance magnate, was one of the investors and thus began a lifelong friendship and partnership. It was definitely a case of opposites attracting. Johnson was a well respected, religious man whereas Scotty was a rowdy, shady character. After investing thousands of dollars and receiving no return, Johnson decided to personally check out the mine, despite the fact that his health was not good. Because the dry, sunny climate improved his health dramatically, Johnson and his wife made frequent visits to the Valley which, in turn, led to the building the Death Valley ranch. The 3,000-foot elevation and reliable year-round water supply made the site ideal. Johnson supplied more than $2,million needed to finance the project, but Scotty supplied the mystery, curiosity and entertainment. Over the years, many came to visit including Betty Grable, Will Rogers and Norman Rockwell." -- Sandra Scott.