Sort: Date added
View: Justified Light box

About this group »

« Hide

About Bodie Ghost Town

Post your "greatest" images from Bodie Ghost Town, California.

An original ghost town from the late 1800's. Bodie stands today in a state of "arrested decay". So coined by the State of California when they took over the town in 1962 to make it a State Historic Park.

In 1859 William (a.k.a. Waterman) S. Bodey discovered gold near what is now called Bodie Bluff. A mill was established in 1861 and the town began to grow. It started with about 20 miners and grew to an estimated 10,000 people by 1880! By that time, the town of Bodie bustled with families, robbers, miners, store owners, gunfighters and prostitutes of all kinds. At one time there was reported to be 65 saloons in town. Amongst the saloons were numerous brothels and 'houses of ill repute', gambling halls and opium dens. Needless to say that there was entertainment for every taste.

After a long day working the claims, the miners would head for the bars and the red light district to spend their earnings. The mixture of money, gold and alcohol would often prove fatal. It is said that there was a man killed every day in Bodie. Presumably, the undertaker never had a slow day.

show more

5,116 photos | 718 members | 25 Apr 05

Join This Group

Discussions

More discussions

Top Tags

  • bodie
  • california
  • ghosttown
  • town
  • ghost
  • abandoned
  • usa
  • mining
  • ca
  • historic
  • View top 100 tags

    Top Contributors

    tom911r7 (101) TLC Fotografie (97) jauderho (89) Maureen Bond (76) SuzK100 (69)


    ← Previous Photos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ...
    (4,731 items)