Pacific Coast Borax Company

Pacific Coast Borax Company was a prominent American mining and chemical corporation founded in 1890 by Francis Marion Smith. The company is most famous for its '20 Mule Team Borax' brand, which became a household name for cleaning, laundry, and antiseptic products. While primarily an industrial mining entity focused on borate extraction in Death Valley and the Mojave Desert, its products had significant historical applications as topical antiseptics and preservatives in the early healthcare industry. In 1956, the company merged with the United States Potash Corporation to form U.S. Borax, which eventually became a subsidiary of the Rio Tinto Group. The company is also culturally significant for its long-term sponsorship of the 'Death Valley Days' radio and television series.