Ghost Town Investigators!

Last Updated on Monday, 21 February 2011 18:52 Written by Ted Faye Saturday, 19 February 2011 14:53

Okay it's time to take a look at the West's many ghost towns in a whole new way. It's cool to look at the old relics and building remains but we're going to start investigating what happened in these places. These abandoned sites that represent the wild west aren't just piles of rubble, they're living windows into the way people lived and the things they did. They are, in fact, archaeological sites. And one of the best is Rhyolite, Nevada.

It's not far from Beatty just outside of Death Valley National Park. It's about 2 and half hours north of Las Vegas and is one of the most photographed ghost towns in the West. And it's the subject of our next Weird Tales! Look for Weird Tales 5: The Strange Case of Rhyolite, Nevada! It arose from one man's dream in 1904 and in less than 5 years the dream had nearly vanished. What happened during the short life of Rhyolite? Why did its population go from 6000 to 600 in less than a year? Why were the structures seemingly built to last? And what do these remains tell us about the people who lived there? Millionaires, Prospectors, Promoters, Murderers, Thieves, Prostitutes, Preachers, Indians, Shopkeepers, Freighters and others lived in this remote outpost on the edge of Death Valley. All had hopes and dreams. Most ended up disappointed, disillusioned and destitute. Join us on this blog as we invite you to become, with us, Ghost Town Investigators!

The photos above are the John Cook bank building. It's one of Rhyolite's most photographed features. Enjoy these photos from GHOST TOWN PHOTOGRAPHY.