SeeCalifornia.com

Center photo: Invasive, non-native burros in Death Valley National Park are found throughout the backcountry, causing damage to native vegetation, spring ecosystems and competing with native wildlife, such as bighorn sheep and desert tortoise, for limited resources. Right photo: Rhyolite Ghost Town

Death Valley National Park has the highest and lowest points in the contiguous United States. It also holds the record for the hottest spot on earth–134 degrees. So why have people gone to this desolate area of more than 3.4 million acres for 150 years? Not just for sight-seeing and photo-taking but to find immeasurable amounts of gold, silver, lead, copper and other treasures buried there.

Many towns were created, especially during the mining excitement of the 1870s, 1890s and first decade of the 20th Century. The wealth found in Death Valley didn’t just stay there, “it provided the stimulus and capital for Los Angeles’ first boom period,” explains Robert Palazzo, author of the book, “GHOST TOWNS OF DEATH VALLEY.”

“The mines and towns were instrumental in the founding of Santa Monica, Inglewood and other towns in Southern California.”

If you go to Death Valley National Park today, there are guided walks and tours regularly offered, providing glimpses into some of the places and events mentioned in Palazzo’s book. However, you should check nps.gov website for closures and notifications before heading out. A partial government shutdown is affecting many services in California’s and America’s national parks.