Darwin

Darwin sits in California's desert landscape at roughly 4,800 feet elevation, with scattered abandoned structures and remnants from its silver mining operations. The ruins and few remaining buildings reveal traces of a community that once centered on extraction from the earth.

The settlement emerged in 1874 following silver and lead discoveries in the surrounding terrain. By 1877 it had grown into a thriving mining community with roughly 3,500 residents operating multiple mines and two smelting facilities.

The settlement maintains a post office that has continuously operated since 1875, serving as a thread connecting the sparse population to the wider world across generations. This enduring service reflects how communities adapt and persist even as numbers dwindle.

The settlement lies roughly 22 miles southeast of Keeler across sparsely populated high desert terrain. Visitors should expect minimal modern facilities, as the site consists largely of abandoned structures with limited services or infrastructure.

Despite its decline, the place retained its administrative identity and remains designated on official maps rather than disappearing entirely like many other abandoned sites. Today a handful of residents maintain a presence there, unwilling to let it fade from existence.

Location: Inyo County

Elevation above the sea: 1,460 m

GPS coordinates: 36.26806,-117.59167

Latest update: December 15, 2025 16:31