California Trip August and September 2005

John J. and Barbara R. Thomas

Eastern Sierras

Bodie

       Bodie is a ghost town in the hills above the northern shore of Mono Lake. It is now preserved and was established as a state park in 1962. It was amazing to us how much remained in what remains of the town: beds, baking soda on the shelves of the homes, cloths hung on pegs, tools in the garage, stores fully stocked, etc. It remained that way because it was so isolated until recently. Bodie was the roughest gold rush town on record. There's a story about a little girl whose family moved from San Francisco to Bodie. Depending on who tells you, or where you read it, she wrote either: "Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie" or "Good, by God, I'm going to Bodie." You can find out a lot more by going to : http://www.bodie.com/

Bodie in the distance. By 1879 it had 10,000 people and 2000 buildings.

The 20 stamp mill at Bodie. Over 25 years, it produced 10,000 tons of ore worth $15,000,000 at that time.

Main Street. Most of Bodie burned down in two hellaceous fires.
Bodie stands today in a state of "arrested decay".

The Murphy home.

One of the old headframes with a bull wheel next to it.

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