Bodie State Historic Park Things to Do

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The plaque reads: Site of the first major gold rush to the eastern slope of California's Sierra Nevada, Dog Town derived its name from a popular miners' term for camps with huts or hovels. Ruins lying close to the cliff bordering Dog Town Creek are all that remain of the makeshift dwellings which formed part of the 'diggins' here.

On each side of this marker are other memorial markers dedicated to the hardy souls who mined and homesteaded this area.

Bodie grew to be a fairly large city with a population of over 10,000 but most of the buildings were made of wood. A big fire destroyed much of it in 1992 even though the town felt prepared to deal with such catastrophes when it build a fire hydrant system in 1880. Though there was plenty of water, it appears the system was clogged due to improper maintenance. A second fire in 1932 was even more devastating and wiped out everything except what remains today.

As with most ghost towns, Bodie sprung up when something valuable was found in the vicinity and people flocked from elsewhere to capitalize it. The lucky guy was named Bodey though it appears the spelling “Bodie” was adopted by the general populace after a sign painter thought it looked prettier. Of course, the remaining ingredient is for that valuable commodity to dry up in some way, be it depleted or lose its usefulness. In Bodie's case, it started out as quartz in 1859 and from the original mining of that they accidentally found a gold ore deposit in 1877. In the interim, a couple married and gave birth to the first child to be a true Bodie native, Daniel Horner in 1869. The rest as they say is history or at least folklore.

Bodie Cemetery is quite interesting and well worth the short walk up to see it. There are 80 tombstones and some tell quite sad stories about the hardships of pioneer life. Many children died at very young ages. Besides getting a better idea of life in Bodie you also get a nice view of the town from up on the hill as well as the mining area acting as a backdrop for the scenic town.

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The Methodist Church was built in 1882 and is perhaps the most impressive structure in town. It is sadly the only remaining church and has not had a service since the 1932 fire when most of the population left. The simple wooden interior tells of an austere time and is a far cry from the often overly decorative Catholic churches in Europe.

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The plaque reads: NO. 341 BODIE - Gold was discovered here in 1859 by Wm. S. Bodey, after whom the town was named, and the town became the most thriving metropolis of the Mono country. Bodie's mines produced gold valued at more than 100 million dollars. Today a state park, Bodie is one of the best known of the west's 'ghost towns.

California Historical Landmark No 341

The plaque reads:
During the California gold rush, E Clampus Vitus was a fraternal order and benevolence society for miners. It was rumored to be one of the secret societies in the town of Bodie during its heyday.

Today, ECV is dedicated to the preservation of California history and accordingly, members of the present day Bodie chapter were instrumental in preserving the town as a historical landmark. With their help in 1956, legislation was drafted to add Bodie to the state park system. By 1962 the process was complete and one year later, Bodie was included in the National Registry of Historic Sites. In 1964, during an elaborate ceremony, Bodie was dedicated as a state park.

Unfortunately, after 34 winters, several of the monuments unveiled during that ceremony were damaged – prompting a return to Bodie.

This original monument was repaired, relocated, and rededicated as a California sesquicentennial event.

Bodie Chapter No. 64, E Clampus Vitus, September 12, 1998

Bodie Chapter No. 64, E Clampus Vitus

National Register Historical Landmark
The plaque reads: Has been designated as a Registered National Historic Landmark. Under the provision of Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935. This site possesses exceptional value in commemorating and illustrating the history of United States.
U.S. Department of Interiors
National Park Service
1963

BODIE HISTORIC DISTRICT (N66000213)

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This once lively High Sierra mining town inherited it name from William S. Body, yes I know, not the same spelling, but the towns’ folk wanted to insure it was supposedly pronounced right according to historians. Gold was discovered here in 1859 by Mr. Body. By 1879 during it most notorious hey day, it boasted a population of ten thousand and 2,000 buildings. The town sadly was ravaged by two fires although it was rebuilt after the 1892 fire, the second fire in 1932 only left behind 5 percent of its original buildings. By the 1940's is became a ghost town.

Once here, I hope you take the time to wonder around the hills and taken in the beauty this place holds. Though you cannot go into most of buildings you can look in all the windows and see what the folks left behind. Your thinking why would they leave so much behind? It was cheaper to buy items once they resettled than it was to have them shipped out or maybe they just didn't care for them, who knows. So make sure you pick up a brochure from the rangers at the gate, enjoy your stay and try to take the past.

Please look at the state park site:
Bodie State Historic Park

In the cemetery, a large slab of granite reminds the memory of Waterman S. Bodey that gave his name to the town. He was among the first group of prospectors that found gold in Spring 1859. Unfortunately, he died a few month later, in November, lost in the blizzard.