Columbia State Historic Park is a precious reminder of the California Gold Rush era and one of the well-preserved towns of the mid-19th Century. It was founded in 1850 by a small group of prospectors and quickly became California's second-largest city. Columbia thrived as a commercial and mining … [Read more...]
Death Valley Junction: A Ghost Town With an Opera House
Death Valley Junction started as a water stop along the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, which operated from 1907 until 1940. In 1914, a 20-mile side spur was constructed from Death Valley Junction to the mines at Ryan, near Death Valley; the line operated until 1928 and carried Borax to the mill at … [Read more...]
Exploring the History of Little Lake, California Ghost Town
Little Lake, California, is a historic site in Inyo County, just off U.S. Route 395 at the southern end of Owens Valley. The town served as an important stop for travelers journeying between Los Angeles and the Eastern Sierra. It was established as a rest stop for travelers, especially after the Los … [Read more...]
California Gold Country Day Trips: Hidden Gems and Adventures
Explore the wonders of California's Gold Country and discover its hidden treasures, historic landmarks, beautiful scenery, and outdoor adventures. We follow the "Mother Lode Highway," also known as California State Highway 49, almost 300 miles from Sierra County through the foothills of the Sierra … [Read more...]
Randsburg California Ghost Town Day Trip Points of Interest
Randsburg is located just off Highway 395 in eastern Kern County, known as the Rand Area. At an elevation of 3,500 feet, the Living Ghost Town of Randsburg transports travelers back to California's early gold mining days. Randsburg once housed nearly 3,000 miners and their families. When gold was … [Read more...]
Goodsprings Pioneer Saloon Las Vegas Day Trip
Goodsprings, Nevada, was once a bustling gold mining town located 25 miles southwest of Las Vegas. Nowadays, the Pioneer Saloon is the only remaining bar from that era, where once there were seven bars. One of the town's few remaining buildings is the Goodsprings Schoolhouse, built in 1913 and … [Read more...]
Exploring the Remains of Rhyolite Ghost Town
Rhyolite Ghost Town is about a two-hour drive from Las Vegas or less than one hour from Furnace Creek in Death Valley. Rhyolite was once a mining town of 10,000 people with over 50 saloons and 18 grocery stores. Today, all left are the crumbling walls of a few buildings and the still-standing … [Read more...]
Keeler Ghost Town Owens Valley California
Keeler, California, was once a bustling town with a train station, a 300-foot pier, a public swimming pool, and several hotels. The city was initially called Hawley and later named Keeler after Julius M. Keeler. The town's existence was partly due to the Cerro Gordo mines high above the Inyo … [Read more...]
Tonopah Nevada Historic Mining Park Is It Worth Visiting
Tonopah, Nevada, known as the "Queen of the Silver Camps," is approximately midway between Las Vegas and Reno. During the early 1900s, it gained recognition due to its silver and gold deposits. The high prices of precious metals, including lithium clays, have led to new mining projects in the area. … [Read more...]
Pioneertown Western Movie Town Yucca Valley
Pioneertown in Yucca Valley was built in the 1940s as an old Western movie set. Today, locals keep the West tradition alive, holding mock gunfights from April through October on Pioneer Town's Main Street.Pappy and Harriet's Palace offers live music, touring bands, and dancing in their saloon on … [Read more...]
Discover Nevada’s Fascinating Past at Ward Charcoal Ovens
The Ward Charcoal Ovens, which resemble beehives, were constructed in 1876 to produce charcoal for a pair of silver smelters in Ward, Nevada. At its peak, Ward was the biggest town in White Pine County, with a population 1500. Unfortunately, the remnants of the city now lie on private land.Ward … [Read more...]
Bodie Ghost Town California High Sierra Day Trip
There are still around 100 buildings left in Bodie Ghost Town, providing ample opportunities for hours of exploration. It is essential to bring your food and water, as no services are available in the area.As a thriving hub for gold mining, Bodie boasted the same amenities as larger towns, such … [Read more...]
Harmony Borax Works Death Valley
Harmony Borax Works is a popular attraction in Death Valley National Park. The site contains the remains of the processing plant and a few buildings that made up the mining camp of Harmony. Harmony Borax Works was only used to process Borax between 1882 and 1888. Today, the site is listed on the … [Read more...]
Bisbee Queen Mine Tour in Bisbee, Arizona.
Located in the Cochise County of Arizona, Bisbee, Arizona, is a town that came to be known for its mining of copper, gold, and silver in the 1800s, earning a befitting title of 'Queen of the Copper Camps.' Named after Judge DeWitt Bisbee, who was one of the owners of the neighboring Copper Queen … [Read more...]
Gold Point Nevada Ghost Town Day Trip
Gold Point, Nevada, has gone from a bustling mining town to just a few residents. If you love visiting a deserted location free from the constraints of the urban sprawl, then the old ghost town of Gold Point, Nevada, is the spot for you.Ranchers and miners first settled the town during the … [Read more...]