![\"Bodie,](\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/BodieHeader.jpg\")
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As\u00a0Halloween approaches,\u00a0what better to talk about than ghost towns as a basis for outdoor recreation and our exploratory adventures. \u00a0There are ghost towns across the USA and around the world, but choose carefully. \u00a0For example, I don’t recommend exploring\u00a0Pripyat, Ukraine, a city that became a ghost town after\u00a0the\u00a0Chernobyl nuclear disaster. \u00a0Instead locate and explore one of the many\u00a0ghost towns that had a less\u00a0dangerous end.<\/p>\n
The best starting point for a\u00a0ghost town\u00a0adventure that I have found is GhostTowns.com<\/a>. \u00a0The site has a directory of hundreds of ghost towns across the U.S. and Canada. \u00a0Simply choose your state or province to get a list of links. \u00a0Follow the links of your choice to learn more about each ghost town. \u00a0In most cases these really are ghost towns, \u00a0but some listed towns have many historic buildings yet\u00a0are still very much alive. \u00a0You’ll need to research a few to find a ghost town that matches your brand of adventure. \u00a0While a great list, it is not comprehensive. \u00a0There may be more ghost towns in your area that GhostTowns.com<\/a> doesn’t know about. \u00a0Your local historical society or museum can probably help you find more ghost towns and help you get more information about those you may want to explore. \u00a0Your local travel promotion agency may also have helpful information. \u00a0The two key pieces of information are the name of the town and its location.<\/p>\n Once you have a name for a ghost town you want to visit, try a Google Search<\/a> to see if there is some information on the web about it. \u00a0If so, great; if not, don’t despair. \u00a0The lack of information just makes your adventure more adventurous. \u00a0The next step is finding the ghost town. \u00a0For that you will need a map.<\/p>\n The U.S. Geological Survey has made getting maps free, unfortunately it is not so simple. \u00a0Hop on over to the USGS Map Store<\/a> and find the map that applies, based upon what you know so far about the location of your favorite town. \u00a0Here’s how to use the\u00a0USGS Map Store<\/a>:<\/p>\n Bannack, Montana<\/p><\/div>\n Notice that to the right side of the map are two buttons one indicating “Navigate” and the other indicating “Mark Points.” \u00a0Dragging the map and zooming is navigating and if that is working for you, the “Navigate” button must be active. \u00a0Once you have navigated to as close to your point of interest as you can, click the “Mark Points” button. \u00a0Now you are in a mode that will tell you what maps are available.<\/li>\n When downloading these files, be sure you know where they are being stored on your computer. How to do that varies depending upon the operating system (Windows version, Mac etc) you are using. \u00a0Note also that the popup window that shows the available file formats has an icon at the top that looks like a monitor. \u00a0Click it to see a list of all the old maps available for your area. \u00a0Then click the one you want and finally click the download format you want.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n If you are lucky, \u00a0your old map may show your ghost town on it. \u00a0With the old map and your current map, you should be able to navigate to what remains of the town.<\/p>\n When I think of a ghost town, I think of an old western boom town that’s been decaying since the inhabitants left. \u00a0There are still some\u00a0of these ghost towns being preserved at some level of decay as state or regional parks. \u00a0Here are a few:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bodie, California Bodie State Historic Park<\/a> offers visitors a glimpse of an old mining town similar to Bannack. \u00a0Only a small part of the town remains and the building interiors are the way they were left and\u00a0preserved in a state of “arrested decay.” According to the state park website: “Today this once thriving mining camp is visited by tourists, howling winds and an occasional ghost.” \u00a0It is located northeast of Yosemite National Park.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bannack\u00a0is located south of Dillon, Montana. \u00a0It was founded in 1862 at\u00a0the site of a major gold discovery. \u00a0It was the capital of\u00a0Montana Territory<\/a>\u00a0briefly in 1864, until the capital was moved to\u00a0Virginia City<\/a>. Bannack continued as a mining town, though with a dwindling population. The last residents left in the 1970s. \u00a0The town is now\u00a0Bannack State Park<\/a> where you can freely explore and enjoy a\u00a0number of activities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Calico, California<\/p><\/div>\n Located near present day Yermo\u00a0and Barstow,\u00a0California, (San Bernardino County)\u00a0this 1881 silver mining town is preserved as the Calico Ghost Town Regional Park<\/a>. \u00a0Many of the buildings have been reconstructed, but some original buildings remain. \u00a0The park operates mine tours, gunfight stunt shows,\u00a0gold panning, several restaurants, the historic,\u00a02\u00a0ft\u00a06\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0(762\u00a0mm<\/span>)\u00a0narrow gauge\u00a0Calico & Odessa Railroad, and a number of trinket stores. Overnight camping is available\u00a0and special events are held throughout the year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Berlin, Nevada<\/p><\/div>\n Berlin\u00a0was a silver mining town established in 1897 after the opening of the Berlin Mine\u00a0in 1896.\u00a0\u00a0The town declined following the\u00a0Panic of 1907\u00a0and\u00a0was abandoned by 1911. The site was acquired by the state of Nevada as part of\u00a0Berlin\u2013Ichthyosaur State Park<\/a>\u00a0in 1970. \u00a0 Most people travel to this area to see the Ichthyosaur fossils (see my\u00a0Fossil Hunting<\/a> post for more about this style of adventure), but the ghost town is another important attraction. \u00a0During its heyday, Berlin supported 200-250 people including miners, woodcutters, charcoal makers, a doctor and nurse, a forest ranger and a prostitute. Many of the original buildings still remain, and some of the original residents are interred in the town\u2019s cemetery.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whether it’s Halloween or not, \u00a0ghost towns make an interesting object for historical exploration. \u00a0They provide an increasingly rare glimpse of history as the original inhabitants experienced it. \u00a0 Sometimes the remains are minimal and a creative imagination is needed to recreate what life might have been like. \u00a0Other times major efforts have been made to preserve these old towns in a state of suspended animation so that interpretation is much easier. \u00a0Either way, \u00a0ghost towns offer a great excuse to get outdoors and explore.<\/p>\n\n
![\"Bannack,](\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/BannackMT-225.jpg\")
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Some\u00a0Ghost Towns<\/h1>\n
<\/h3>\n
Bodie, California<\/h3>\n
![\"Bodie.](\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/bodie-225.jpg\")
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The old ore grinding mill.<\/p><\/div>\nBannack, Montana<\/h3>\n
Calico, California<\/h3>\n
![\"Calico,](\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Calico-225.jpg\")
<\/a>Berlin, Nevada<\/h3>\n
![\"Berlin,](\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Berlin_Ghost_Town225.jpg\")
<\/a>Conclusion<\/h1>\n
Photo Credits<\/h1>\n