"Bodie State Historical Park 1859" Top 5 Page for this destination Bodie State Historic Park by Yaqui

Bodie State Historic Park Travel Guide: 95 reviews and 223 photos

Something everyone must visit:-)

Updated - We revisited Bodie and they were celebrating 150 years with a food, music, events, and so many dressed in authentic attire.

The town inherited it name from William S. Body, yeah 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. Can you imagine what had transpired with having 65 saloons? Killing after killing from gun and fist fights from all the liquor that had to be brewed constantly due to the demand. Let’s not forget what goes up must come down, for instance all those dang stay bullets that probably found many unlucky victims. Let’s not forget to mention the bad men that were lured here by Gold that found it lucrative to live here.

Still as little as four years time, the mining was drying up and the gold mining companies were going bust. Like the saying goes, “when it rains it pours”, the town was ravaged by two fires that only left behind 5 percent of its original buildings and was a ghost town by the 1940’s. It became a state historic park in 1962 and maintained in a state of "arrested decay", so lucky tourist like my self can see what it was like to live back then. I am still amazed how we ever survived the test of time.

California’s Abandoned Mines "Stay Out - Stay Alive!"

Dusty and dry

For many years I have had this really neat book that illustrates where many of the historical places and parks are. It is broke down by divisions according to west coast, mid west, and east coast. It gives where and when the places are open and located. It gives a brief history or information about the place so you can decide if you want to visit it. For years I looked and dreamed of visited some of the neat places. In fact, my book has fallen apart and I keep it together with tape and staples….lol! It was published by Readers Digest, since then I have purchased another, but it’s not as good.

Bodie was one of those places I wished to visit. When Nick was only one year old we set out on an adventure with baby in tow. We visited Bodie, Columbia, Yosemite, drove thru the High Sierras, Bridgeport, Donner National Park, and drove all around Lake Tahoe. Nick just went with the flow and made our trip fantastic. Unfortunately, Nate was not so patient due to his autism so the adventures stopped for awhile. Now that he is older, he loves to explore and seems to appreciate all the places we go now, so Yippy!

Saddest Little Angel

Taken in 1998

I have seen this for years in books and postcards. To finally see and touch the Saddest Little Angel was amazing to me. She is someones little guardian that is never going to leave her charges side.

This is a great page:
Bodie

Pros and Cons

Pros:Its a perfect illustration of how our poineers lived.
Cons:No Services, other than restrooms.
In a nutshell:History trapped in time!

Last visit to Bodie State Historic Park: Dec 2008
Intro Updated Oct 17, 2009
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Reviews (23)

Dog Town California Historical Marker#792 - Bodie State Historic Park

Dog Town California Historical... Things to Do (4)

The plaque reads: Site of the first major gold rush to the eastern slope of California's Sierra Nevada, Dog Town derived... more travel advice

California Historical Markers - Bodie State Historic Park

California Historical Markers Things to Do (4)

The plaque reads: NO. 341 BODIE - Gold was discovered here in 1859 by Wm. S. Bodey, after whom the town was named, and... more travel advice

Bodie ODD FELLOWS LODGE No. 279 - Bodie State Historic Park

Bodie ODD FELLOWS LODGE No. 279 Off The Beaten Path (17)

Located off of Main Street. IOOF used the upper floor of this building. The lodge was instituted March 11, 1878, by the... more travel advice

The Post Office & Dechambeau Hotel - Bodie State Historic Park

The Post Office & Dechambeau Hotel Off The Beaten Path (17)

Located off of Main Street. The Post Office moved here in 1879 from Silas Smith store on northeast Main Street, where it... more travel advice

Warnings and Dangers (2)
See All Have WATER at all times!

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Written Apr 16, 2004

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Comments (26)

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LoriPori Mar 5, 2012 at 3:23 AM

Great page on Bodie State Park. It is so wonderful that all those historical buildings have been lovingly restored.
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MalenaN Dec 20, 2011 at 10:50 AM

It was interesting to read about the history of Bodie. Nice that they were celebrating 150 years when you revisited and that you could see the the old town with people dressed in authentic clothes.
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lmkluque Dec 17, 2011 at 1:15 PM

I've driven past Bodie, but your page makes me wish I had stopped! Thanks Dee for all your work here. I won't drive past next time!
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kris-t Nov 30, 2011 at 7:28 PM

Great page and unique place!
Glad to hear that our Paris page is helpful, thanks for your kind comment.
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ncfg Jun 23, 2011 at 3:24 AM

Very nice page Dee. I loved the houses.
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aussirose Feb 20, 2011 at 3:09 PM

Hi Dee. Wow! Great page! :o) I just love those cute pioneer houses :o) Our ones are built mainly of limestone. Interesting :o) Cheers, Ann.
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xaver Dec 5, 2010 at 4:49 AM

thanks, great page about a park I did not know at all.
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deecat Jul 1, 2010 at 10:52 AM

Marvelous page, Dee.What a history lesson, and you know I love this kind of place. The Saddest Little Angel is so sweet. You always do such unique places that I find a delight to read about and to view.
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starship Jun 9, 2010 at 7:42 PM

Fascinating place! This is the first I've heard of Bodie State Historic Park, but it certainly looks like an interesting place to visit!
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jumpingnorman Nov 29, 2009 at 5:53 PM

Yes, I remeber where I saw Nick as a one year old - here on your Bodie page...and also the saddest little angel is on this page. Thanks again for the nostalgic picture, Norman :)