Franklin

Franklin is a ghost town in King County, Washington, containing the remains of a former mining community that was active from the 1880s through the mid-20th century. The site shows old foundations, cemetery markers, and scattered remnants of buildings and mining-related structures across the landscape.

Franklin was established in the 1880s and grew rapidly due to coal mining in the Green River Gorge, with railroad connections arriving in 1885. A deadly mine fire in 1894 killed 37 workers, but the town continued operating until coal production declined in the 1920s and mining finally ceased in 1971.

Franklin was home to immigrant miners from Wales, England, Ireland, Italy, and Scotland who formed a tight-knit community around the coal industry. The town served as a social center with schools and gathering places that reflected the daily lives of these working families.

The site is accessible by a short drive from nearby towns and can be explored on foot via designated trails. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as the terrain is uneven and there are no facilities available on the property.

After the mines closed, a coal seam caught fire underground and created hot springs with temperatures around 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Celsius). Visitors could later soak in a small pool built near the mine entrance, but the underground fire has long since gone out and the water is now cold.