Yermo
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Going back home from Nevada to California, a group of people and I noticed a highway sign on the 15 Freeway: Ghost Town Road. We knew then that our trip was not over yet. We were heading to Calico Ghost Town.
Founded in 1881, following a silver strike, the historic
town of Calico became a haven for silver mining. It is 10 miles north of Barstow, California.
Not until the late 1890s when the world value of silver started to fall down that Calico's silver mining started to cease. After that period, deposits of borax was discovered in the Calico mountains. Borax mining continued until 1910.
Walter Knott, founder of
Knotts Berry Farm, bought the town from Zenda Mining Company. He then donated the town to the San Bernardino county in 1967, becoming a regional park, and in turn preserving Calico's history.
We arrived in Calico Ghost Town. It was closed. At least, the entrance to the ghost town proper was closed. The town's outskirts were openly accessible. It is where the Calico cemetery is. On the other side of the outskirts is the camping ground. Fortunately, the good-natured security guard allowed us to see the inside of the historic town, but only for 15 minutes.
I took pictures of the ghost town as much as I could within the short allocated time.
Photography shots that I have included in the essay are the ones that I think are the best. Well, they are decent to say the least.
Mining life in old Calico
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Calico Lane House of Museum
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Inside the 'ghost town'' of Calico, California
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Town of Calico is California registered historical landmark no. 782
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Inside the 'ghost town'' of Calico, California
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Lane's general merchandise store in old Calico
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Inside the 'ghost town'' of Calico, California
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Inside the 'ghost town'' of Calico, California
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Calico candle shop and Main Street stage
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Tourist Joe saloon photo op
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Inside the 'ghost town'' of Calico, California
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Calico rocks and fossils shop
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Inside the 'ghost town'' of Calico, California
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Inside the 'ghost town'' of Calico, California
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Ghost town museum preserving Calico's past atmosphere
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Calico Ghost Town was founded in 1881
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Ghost town bulletin board
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