Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Calico Ghost Town



On Saturday a few of my classmates and our families went on a field trip out passed Barstow. We went to this old mining town called Calico. We had a great time looking at all the old buildings and reading about the history of Calico. It was fun to see the old signs that people wrote to find work or to find their spouses.


Calico was a booming mining town in 1881. They mined silver and borax there up untill 1907 when the town suddenly was abandoned. It inherited the name Calico Ghost Town. During the 1880's the population was 1,200. During the boom there was as many as 5,000 people. Today there are less than 12 people that live there.


As we investigated the town we took train rides and tunnel tours. It is said that the mining tunnels are 30 miles long. That would be able the distance back home to Apple Valley. The town even had a small area known as China Town. Amazing....


We had a great time visiting and my children enjoyed it. There was alot more to do there than just walk around. I was pretty impressed with what it had to offer. Calico also has special events throughout the year, two of which are the most popular; Civil War Days in February and a Halloween event. It is said that ghosts do walk around there and that people have actually seen them. YIKES!!! I will definitely not be visiting during Halloween.


2 comments:

Team Immel said...

my kids would love that ghost town! what fun and great photos! love wordless wednesday. i'm having one of those myself.

love ya!!
xoxo
si

Anonymous said...

what a beautiful day it turned out to be too! i have not been there since i was like 12...so not that long ago!lol glad u had a great time and enjoyed a day out with family and fresh air.

lynda