It’s fun to imagine what life must have been like during the California Gold Rush. Step back in time while visiting the Chemung Mine and the small abandoned town outside of the town of Bridgeport. Oh, and this abandoned mine is also a great place for ghost hunters, too!
The Chemung Mine was opened in 1909. It closed in 1938 and was abandoned.
Cowgirl Jules/Flickr During its operational years, a tiny town sprung up around it with just enough basic necessities to support the area miners. The small town had a mill, several offices, a general store, and a bunkhouse where miners would sleep. At over 8,100 feet in elevation, miners at Chemung would endure freezing winters and harsh conditions.
Today the mine and town are completely dilapidated and reclaimed by nature.
Gerald Corsi/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Visitors can walk around the area on a trail and view the structures from afar. Some visitors do explore the inside of the buildings, but keep in mind these buildings are not structurally sound so explore at your own risk.
Gold was discovered in California in 1848. The California Gold Rush officially lasted from 1848 to 1855, but mining was still a big business for decades afterwards.
The Greater Southwestern Exploration Company’s photostream/Flickr Once word spread that gold and silver ore was plentiful at the Chemung Mine, people flooded in hoping to make it rich. In its years of operation, the Chemung Mine made around $1 million from gold ore.
The mine was in operation for around 30 years until it was closed and abandoned in 1938 after numerous operational and legal issues.
The Greater Southwestern Exploration Company’s photostream/Flickr When the mine closed, the workers left to find new jobs. The high altitude combined with the dry air have helped to preserve the mine.
There is a rumor that a poltergeist likes to mess with visitors and sometimes chase them away.
karenfoleyphotography/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Chemung Mine is not far from Masonic Mining Camp, another abandoned mining place that ghost hunters and history lovers enjoy visiting.
If you want to see an intact abandoned mining town just visit Bodie, which was also the closest town to the Chemung Mine during its time.
karenfoleyphotography/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images In Bodie, Chemung Miners could buy supplies and get a drink at the local bar.
The remnants of the California Gold Rush are all around us– from the small mining towns to big businesses in our cities (some of which were opened during the Gold Rush era), and notable architecture. It’s important– and fascinating– to learn about this major part of California’s history.
Cowgirl Jules/Flickr
During its operational years, a tiny town sprung up around it with just enough basic necessities to support the area miners. The small town had a mill, several offices, a general store, and a bunkhouse where miners would sleep. At over 8,100 feet in elevation, miners at Chemung would endure freezing winters and harsh conditions.
Gerald Corsi/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Visitors can walk around the area on a trail and view the structures from afar. Some visitors do explore the inside of the buildings, but keep in mind these buildings are not structurally sound so explore at your own risk.
The Greater Southwestern Exploration Company’s photostream/Flickr
Once word spread that gold and silver ore was plentiful at the Chemung Mine, people flooded in hoping to make it rich. In its years of operation, the Chemung Mine made around $1 million from gold ore.
When the mine closed, the workers left to find new jobs. The high altitude combined with the dry air have helped to preserve the mine.
karenfoleyphotography/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Chemung Mine is not far from Masonic Mining Camp, another abandoned mining place that ghost hunters and history lovers enjoy visiting.
In Bodie, Chemung Miners could buy supplies and get a drink at the local bar.
Have you visited Chemung Mine? Did you see the ghost? Tell us in the comments.
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Address: Chemung Mine, Bridgeport, CA 93517, USA
