Calico, ghost town in San Bernardino County, California, United States
Calico, California is a former silver mining town in San Bernardino County that features restored structures from the mining era. The townsite includes a walkable mine shaft, original schoolhouse, railroad station, saloons, shops, and a small museum displaying tools, photographs, and artifacts that document daily life from the 1880s.
The town was founded in the 1880s following the discovery of silver, which quickly drew thousands of miners and prospectors to the area. After silver prices collapsed, the population departed, but Walter Knott purchased and restored the site in the 1950s, establishing it as a preserved historical landmark.
The name Calico comes from the colorful minerals found in the area, resembling the patchwork pattern of the fabric. Visitors can observe how the former mining community organized its streets and buildings, with shops and homes that show how people lived side by side during the boom years.
The site is easily walkable, with clear paths between buildings and the Maggie Mine situated on level ground accessible to most visitors. Plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon hours, as desert heat can be intense during midday, particularly in warmer months.
The Bottle House, constructed from thousands of colorful glass bottles, is an unexpected artistic creation that many visitors overlook, as it now primarily serves as a photo spot. This quirky structure showcases the ingenuity of early residents and represents creative material reuse during the settlement era.
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