Bodie was the first stop on Day Two of our trip to The East Side of the Sierra. It is a a mining ghost town, a California state park described as being in “a state of arrested decay”. This means they keep it from falling apart any further, but they don’t rebuild. It was finally abandoned in about 1942, due to the country’s needs for a different type of mining during the war. There were 20 years of looting, pillaging, squatting, and destruction before it became a state park in 1962. It is fascinating!
We passed two herds of sheep on the long paved-turned-to-dirt road into Bodie. The light was wonderful but there were no turnouts, so this is a drive-by-shooting.
By the parking lot.
Why is this all here? (Yesterday I told you my mind is flooded with questions, and I meant it.) This certainly isn’t beach glass. Ghost glass?
I have helped 3 different students with their drawings of this church in Bodie. It is the most noticeable building when you first arrive.
The fanciest house in town is also the most photographed.
Peeking in windows is the only way to see what’s inside. After a few inside peeks, Hiking Buddy said, “I can see that wallpaper doesn’t go the distance.”
These yellow flowers were everywhere we went on our road trip.
This exterior wall is sided with pressed tin, normally used in ceilings.
Ubiquitous unknown yellow wildflowers.
I helped one of my drawing students with this view too.
This is the stamp mill. If we had timed it right, we could have taken a tour, but we had many other places to see. Choices and consequences.
Desolate place. (Duh).
This is a leaf spring. I’ve heard the term but never understood it.
The wire fence keeping us out had holes big enough to put my camera through. (Ha ha, can’t keep me out.)
The colors!!
The wooden sphere is a globe inside the schoolhouse, last used in 1942.
The most common sight all over Bodie.
Hi, George.
How did this beautiful handle survive the looting??
The wooden facade is actually a museum and store. The brick building is a former hotel.
Inside the museum, I was drawn to the light coming through the glass, mostly because of the blue.
In conclusion, it was a great 1/2 day in a weirdly wonderful, somewhat melancholy, slightly creepy view into the mysterious past.
Places like that make me sad, because it looks like the people left suddenly, not bothering to take all their possessions. They just deserted their homes and businesses. Why? Did they all leave at once, or one family at a time gave up? Maybe there are eyewitness accounts of former residents. That would be an interesting read!
Sharon, Bodie is melancholy. People left a little at a time, and left behind the possessions that they didn’t have the capacity to take with them. I felt less sad when I learned why the town died – miners and mining efforts were needed toward winning WWII. The thing that really bugs me is the years of looting and wrecking stuff! And I too would like to read accounts by people who were there.
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Places like that make me sad, because it looks like the people left suddenly, not bothering to take all their possessions. They just deserted their homes and businesses. Why? Did they all leave at once, or one family at a time gave up? Maybe there are eyewitness accounts of former residents. That would be an interesting read!
Sharon, Bodie is melancholy. People left a little at a time, and left behind the possessions that they didn’t have the capacity to take with them. I felt less sad when I learned why the town died – miners and mining efforts were needed toward winning WWII. The thing that really bugs me is the years of looting and wrecking stuff! And I too would like to read accounts by people who were there.
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