This is what's left of the old Kearsarge Mine.  On the road to Onion Valley the remains of this once prosperous gold mine overlook Owens Valley.  There was an afternoon thunderstorm threatening when the Magic Raven visited this site.  The Magic Raven doesn't like rain so he took this picture quickly, got back in his car and continued down to Independence for lunch. 

Many years ago when Owens Lake was full, steam boats carried gold and silver bullion from the Cerro Gordo mines to the terminus in Cartago. Cartago is a small community on the Southwestern edge of Owens Lake and ruins like this strange building still stand as a reminder of more prosperous times.  From this point, twenty mule teams carried the ore down to the harbor at San Pedro.  Ships then carried the bullion to the mints in San Francisco. 

There is a wonderful little museum in Independence that has a great collection of historical artifacts including a number of old buildings like this one that have survived.  The Magic Raven liked the shadows on the wall.

This neighborhood cat decided to play hide and seek with the Magic Raven.  The Raven got off one good frame before kitty got bored and disappeared. 

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