Ghost towns built on gold and silver — the engine of the American West’s boom and bust cycles.
Cerro Gordo Ghost Town, California: The Silver Mine That Built Los Angeles California Gold & Silver Mining 4WD required · ~16 min read Quick facts Primary discovery1865 — Pablo Flores District organizedApril 1866 Peak population4,000–4,800 (mid-1870s) First abandonment~1880 (post-fire) Zinc era1905–1940s Final mining endLate 1940s Primary industrySilver, lead, zinc State / CountyCalifornia / Inyo County…
Frisco Ghost Town, Utah: The Wildest Camp in the Great Basin and the Mine That Collapsed Under Its Own Weight Utah Gold & Silver Mining Unmanaged site · Access with caution · ~12 min read Quick facts Silver discoveredSeptember 1875 Town founded1876 Peak population~6,000 (1885) Saloons at peak23 Horn Silver Mine output$20.3M (1875–1910) Total district…
Garnet Ghost Town, Montana: Two Gold Rushes, a Depression Revival, and 30 Buildings That Refused to Fall Montana Gold & Silver Mining Entrance fee applies · ~12 min read Quick facts First gold discovery (Beartown)1865 Garnet townsite founded1895 (as Mitchell) Renamed Garnet1897 Peak population (1st boom)~1,000–1,200 (1898) Revival population (1930s)~250 Final abandonment1948 (after Frank Davey’s…
Jerome Ghost Town, Arizona: The Billion-Dollar Copper Camp That Slid Downhill Arizona Gold & Silver Mining Free to explore · ~14 min read Quick facts First mining claims1875 Town incorporated1899 Peak population~15,000 (1920s) Current population~450 residents Elevation5,200 ft on a 30° slope Primary industryCopper mining Major mine closed1953 (United Verde) DesignationNational Historic Landmark District State…
Calico Ghost Town, California: The Silver Camp Saved by a Theme Park Legend California Gold & Silver Mining Entry Fee Applies · ~10 min read Quick facts Silver discovery1881 Peak population1,200 – 3,000 (1887-1890) Major mineSilver King Mine Decline began1896 (Silver price crash) Completely abandoned1907 Total silver output~$20 million State / CountyCalifornia / San Bernardino…
Oatman Ghost Town, Arizona: Gold, Route 66, and Wild Burros Arizona Gold & Silver Mining Free to visit · ~10 min read Quick facts Gold discovery1902 (Vivian Mine) Town renamed1909 Peak population3,500 – 10,000 (1920s-30s) Major mine closed1924 (United Eastern) Effectively abandoned1960s Total gold output2 million ounces State / CountyArizona / Mohave County Managed byUnincorporated…
Bannack Ghost Town, Montana: Gold Rush, Vigilantes & Montana’s First Territorial Capital Montana Gold & Silver Mining Entrance fee applies · ~12 min read Quick facts Gold discoveryJuly 28, 1862 Peak population3,000+ (by 1863) Post office closed1938 Buildings remaining50+ on Main Street DesignationNational Historic Landmark (1961) Managed byMontana Fish, Wildlife & Parks State / CountyMontana…
St. Elmo Ghost Town, Colorado: The Best-Preserved Town in the Rocky Mountains Colorado Gold & Silver Mining Car accessible · ~16 min read Quick facts Founded1880 (originally “Forest City”) IncorporatedDecember 1880 Peak population~1,800 (mid-1880s) 1900 census population145 1930 population7 Primary industryGold & silver mining · rail transport Key mineMary Murphy Mine Railroad abandoned1926 — final…
Deadwood, South Dakota: Wild Bill, Calamity Jane & the Most Lawless Camp in the Black Hills South Dakota Gold & Silver Mining National Historic Landmark · ~18 min read Quick facts Camp formedEarly 1876 (illegal settlement) Townsite formally laid outAugust 26, 1876 Peak rush population~25,000 (rush-era estimate) 1880 census population3,777 Wild Bill Hickok killedAugust 2,…
Bodie Ghost Town, California: The Most Lawless City in the American West California Gold & Silver Mining State Historic Park · ~18 min read Quick facts Gold discoveryJuly 1859 Major boom triggered1876 (Bunker Hill Mine) Peak population8,000–10,000 (c.1879) Decline began1879 Mining ended1942 Total gold & silver output$34–70 million (1860–1942) Buildings surviving110 (of ~2,000 original) Elevation8,375…