Department of History

Blaze a trail across the West and explore the remnants of once-thrieving cities left to die after the gold mines played out-places like Bedbug, Freezeout, total Wreck, and Lump City. Discover a patchwork of boom and bust towns, both famous and forgotten, and relive a piece of history that shaped our American past.Experience the western flavor of CALICO, a restored mining town outside Barstow, California, and listen to the strains of an authentic string band.Step back in time to California's BODIE, where history has stopped, but the pioneer spirit remains.Pass by the lonely log cabins of Colorado's TUCKERVILLE, a place whose past lies unrecorded.Meet the man determined to preserve Nevada's desolate GOLD POINT, and learn the ghostly tale of "the "mysterious lady" in neighboring GOLDFIELD.Visit COLOMA, located in the heart of California's Mother Lode, and home to outlaw Black Bart.Discover the mystery of JEROME'S sliding jail, and the faded elegance of OATMAN, the Arizona town that wouldn't die.