topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

Bodie began as a mining camp of little note following the discovery of gold in 1859 by a group of prospectors, including W. S. Bodey.
In 1876, the Standard Company discovered a profitable deposit of gold-bearing ore, which transformed Bodie from an isolated mining camp comprising a few prospectors and company employees to a Wild West boomtown.
By 1879, Bodie had a population of approximately 7,000–10,000 people and around 2,000 buildings. Over the years 1860–1941, Bodie's mines produced gold and silver valued at an estimated US$34 million (in 1986 dollars, or $85 million in 2021). Bodie boomed from late 1877 through mid– to late 1880.
The last mine closed in 1942, due to War Production Board order L-208, shutting down all non-essential gold mines in the United States during World War II. Mining never resumed after the war.

In the 1940s, the threat of vandalism faced the ghost town. The Cain family, who owned much of the land, hired caretakers to protect and maintain the town's structures
Bodie is now an authentic Wild West ghost town.

The town was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and in 1962 the state legislature authorized the creation of Bodie State Historic Park. A total of 170 buildings remained. Bodie has been named California's official state gold rush ghost town.

Chock full of hundreds of interesting artifacts from the years gone by, this 1879 building was owned by Harvey Boone (incidentally, a direct descendant of Daniel Boone!).

Boone Store, from the back room

(Download)

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Great narrative and a cool shot. I haven't been there for over 50 years. Do you have any more pictures?

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

Thank you. I have a bunch of colour shots that I scanned a while back, I just found the B&W ones that I took and never did anything with them. Maybe I will post the colour ones that I have already processed. I never look at them because they are from so long ago.

I took two photography groups there. I liked the first one so I went back again a couple of years later. We were able to go into all the houses. It was a great time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodie,_California

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Great image!!!

robertcbyrd Loc: 28754

Thank you for the photo and the narrative.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Great shot!
Nice narrative, too.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Nice image.

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

Thank you. I appreciate that

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

Thank you

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

Thank you, I appreciate that

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

A very nice post, topcat! It looks like you have captured a very rare object, not normally associated with Gold Mining Boom Towns. That is a Star Trek Tribble in the middle of the desk, isn't it??!
I too would like to see more photos of Bodie. I stopped there several years ago, sans camera!

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Great capture topcat.

Don

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

I have a few, they are from a long time ago. I always wanted to go back with a modern camera.
But the groups that they have now are different. They are for a few days, and they try to make night star photography the big thing. While I would like to take some astrophotography, I am more interested in the interiors of the buildings. But maybe I will try those.

Yes, I think that it is a tribble.

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

Thank you, Don

arperry Loc: Miami/Florida

Great photo of the interior of that store. Bodie is a photographer's paradise. Better be prepared to take hundreds of captures.