Abandoned
The Spirit of Sacramento: an abandoned riverboat with a fascinating tale
Along a quiet stretch of the Sacramento River, there is a roadside attraction that feels almost too strange to be real: a weathered, old sternwheeler sitting high and dry, as if it drifted out of the past and anchored along the Garden Highway. What makes this attraction even more interesting, is the fact that it’s …...
The story behind the abandoned Colfax Hotel
Long ago, when the town of Colfax, formerly Illinoistown, was surrounded only by mountains and dirt roads, the iron horses of the Central Pacific and later Southern Pacific Railroads were blazing a trail in its very direction. In fact, Colfax became the heart of a new junction, connecting Grass Valley and Nevada City to the …...
Clarksburg’s mighty Cornish house and the tale of George F. Cornish
150 years ago, George F. Cornish and his wife Mary made their way to Yolo County, California, with the aspirations of a better life for them and their future family. In 1868, they built a magnificent house along the banks of the Sacramento River, near the town of Clarksburg. Over time, the Cornish house was …...
Donner Summit Train Tunnels: a historical journey through abandoned train tunnels
Truckee has been fondly referred to as “the most historical square mile in California.” And, perhaps, no site represents this historical significance better than Donner Summit, where the abandoned train tunnels are located. In addition to the remarkable tunnels, China Wall and Native American petroglyphs are found in the same...
Forest City: Sierra County’s authentic Gold Rush ghost town
Forest City, appropriately named because of its location in the Tahoe National Forest, was settled in the summer of 1852 when miners discovered gold at the forks of the Oregon Creek in Sierra County. Within a few short years, the town grew to over 1,000 residents and at least 30 commercial businesses. However, like other …...
A historical look at the Mare Island Naval Hospital
The Mare Island Hospital is a massive structure with an immense presence. Although it has been inactive for nearly six decades, this retired hospital is an impressive sight with a fascinating history. Mare Island’s Beginnings Mare Island drew its name from General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo himself, after the General had found one...
The SS Monte Carlo Uncovered: The Sin Ship’s legendary history
During the 1930’s a handful of ships, often thought to be under the control of the mob, dotted the Pacific Coast of California in effort to skirt State and Federal alcohol, gambling and prostitution laws. The S.S. Monte Carlo, one of these ships, was anchored off the coast of Long Beach and San Diego, was …...
Abandoned Nevada County Hospital: the historic and tragic tale of the HEW building
On the outskirts of Nevada City, sits an abandoned mental health facility with a tragic story to tell. In addition to being filled with asbestos, lead paint, mold and graffiti, this complex also contains stories of murder and haunted encounters. The HEW Building The 34,000 square foot complex has had many incarnations during its...
Silver City: a ghost town with cardiac arrested decay
Silver City is one of the most unique ghost towns in all of California. Like Bodie State Park and Calico, Silver City is in a state of “arrested decay”. This means that the structures are preserved and protected in a state of natural decay to prevent further deterioration, without building anything new. However, unlike the...
Shasta County’s Afterthought Mine is fading away
Located in the town of Ingot, less than 20 miles east of Redding along Highway 299, are the remains of an abandoned copper mine called the Afterthought Mine. What was once one of Shasta County’s most prosperous copper mines, is now nothing more than a dilapidated structure and a fleeting memory of a once thriving …...
