Aurora, Gone But Not Forgotten
There was a time many years ago when California drew people from all over the world to the gold and silver mines in this state. We all were taught about Sutters Mill and Gold discoveries up and down the American and Sacramento Rivers in the 1850's but often we over looked the great mining operations on the other side of the Sierras, east of Owens Valley. Some of the huge bonanzas that were responsible for the beginnings of the California economy were named "Bodie," "Cerro Gordo" and "Aurora ." These were mega-boon towns in their days and their impact on the growth of our state cannot be ignored. With the exception of Bodie, which has been restored by the State of California for tourists, these other sites have long ago been abandoned. They are true ghost towns, lonely, wind blown relics of the past. Many marked only by ruined, burned out shacks, or the remnants of deserted mines and occasionally a monument left by a hand full of historians hoping we will not forget them. I like to find and explore ghost towns and last week I searched for one called Aurora.
Aurora is not to far from Bodie. Only fourteen miles on the map. The little sign on the road going east out of Bodie pointing to Aurora made it seem like and easy trip. It was a rough fourteen miles. My four wheel drive Blazer insisted I go very slowly down a rutted, narrow dirt road. Calves stood in the muddy spots in the road and dared me to continue on. I patiently waited till they jumped on to grass covered slopes on either side of the canyon. I missed the turn-off several times but finally ended up next to a plaque telling me I was in Aurora.
According the history books more then 6000 people lived and worked in Aurora in 1863. There were 761 houses and 22 salons. 16 mills with 200 stamps ran all day long. Sam Clemens (Mark Twain) lived in Aurora in 1862. The pictures below show what's left of Aurora. By the way, Aurora was once the county seat of Mono county in California. But in 1863, surveys showed Aurora was actually in Nevada. California then moved the capitol of Mono County to Bridgeport.
These are the remains of a very large ore processing plant capable of handling 500 tons a day.