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Server Time:
2024-05-02 21:32:59
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Location DB >
United States >
California >
Darwin >
Darwin
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Publically Viewable |
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
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Unlike many mining towns, Darwin never completely died. In 1880, 85 people still remained. In 1908 a ripple of excitement occurred over working of some low-grade ore deposits. The ore was shipped to the recently re-opened smelter in nearby Keeler, and life stirred in the moribund town. During the next decade more mines opened and older ones were re-worked. A new hotel was built, and the town began to show true signs of a resurgence. Then on August 17, 1917, a second major fire took out three homes, an automobile service garage, the brand new hotel, a saloon and a storehouse. Less than a year later, in July, 1918 a third fire swept down the other side of Main Street destroying a home, the Darwin Hotel, a pool hall, saloon, the store/post office and a number of outbuildings. Darwin staggered but refused to fall. In 1919 major development began on Mt. Ophir, and a company town was built to house all the miners needed to work the Wagner & Company Mine. Wagner was only the first of several lessees and owners of the property until 1942 when the mine was closed be the government order that all mines were to be closed for the “War Effort”. In 1926 the Eichbaum toll road was pushed through Darwin and into Death Valley. In 1929 tourist cabins (like a motel) were built and a slight surge in tourist activity brought a little more life back into the quiet mining town. In 1937 the state highway (SH 190) was built, and Darwin lost its life giving tourist trade. After the War ended, Anaconda Copper Mining Co. purchased the property and reopened the facilities, and within a couple years the Anaconda’s Darwin Mine was the number one lead mine in California. The mines remained in operation until the 1970s. The remains of that company camp almost overshadow the original site of the town.
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Type: Outdoors
Status: Abandoned
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: worth the trip
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Address
Darwin, California
United States
Owner:
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Many buildings, dugouts (in which miners lived in tunnels burrowed into the ground), the old gas station with retro gas pumps still intact, an abandoned school house with a creepy statue, many buildings -- some abandoned, the dance house (read: bordello), a cemetary, and much, much more. This is no "tourist" ghost town. Though there are still residents, it's a ghost town, through-and-through.
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flashlight gloves long pants / sleeves
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The town was named after Dr. Darwin French, who also had a nearby peak, wash, stream, and canyon named after him. In 1874, rich silver-lead deposits were discovered in the surrounding hills, and Darwin grew to a populaation of over 1,000. By 1878, just four years later, the town was left nearly deserted, after everyone scrambled to Bodie.
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It will continue living, ironically as a testamant to its namesake :-)
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The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.
This location has not yet been rated by a moderator.
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This location's validation is current. It was last validated by
Emperor Wang on 3/7/2007 4:26 PM.
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on Mar 7 07 at 16:26, Emperor Wang validated this location on Mar 7 07 at 7:27, tunnelbug made this location available on Mar 7 07 at 7:26, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Building? on Mar 7 07 at 7:25, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Public Art or Past Relic? on Mar 7 07 at 7:25, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Cemetary Obelisk on Mar 7 07 at 7:24, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Car at Night on Mar 7 07 at 7:24, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Statue in Abandoned School Building on Mar 7 07 at 7:23, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Poorman's Plot on Mar 7 07 at 7:23, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Wood Grave Markers on Mar 7 07 at 7:23, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Darwin Cemetary
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