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James S. Cain was one of the last people who tried to save Bodie from disappearing altogether. After the town had emptied out and scavengers began stripping it for parts, Cain stepped in as a self-appointed caretaker, determined to preserve what remained of Bodie’s rough, gold-rush soul.
Living there in near isolation, he repaired buildings, chased off vandals, and guarded the town through brutal winters, believing Bodie was worth saving as a living relic of the American West. Though he lacked money and official backing - and ultimately couldn’t stop time from taking its toll - Cain’s stubborn dedication helped prevent Bodie from being completely dismantled. His efforts laid the emotional and practical groundwork for Bodie’s later preservation, and today the town stands in a state of “arrested decay” largely because someone once cared enough to try.
Bodie, CA located at over 8000 feet altitude in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, is one of the best preserved ghost towns in the country. Now a State Historic Park, at the end of the 19th century Bodie was the second largest town in California (after San Francisco). As a gold and silver mining town it had its heydays around 1879.
Having visited Bodie a couple of times before, finally in April of 2013 I paid for a permit to enter seven buildings. A monitor was with me and understandably I had to adhere to a lot of rules, as to not damage anything. I had to fold my tripod each time as I moved around, and couldn't touch cobwebs or dust on the old furniture.
This is a limited edition of 20 images at any size. If you are interested in a particular size, frame, mat or have general questions about this piece, please either email me or call me
James S. Cain was one of the last people who tried to save Bodie from disappearing altogether. After the town had emptied out and scavengers began stripping it for parts, Cain stepped in as a self-appointed caretaker, determined to preserve what remained of Bodie’s rough, gold-rush soul.
Living there in near isolation, he repaired buildings, chased off vandals, and guarded the town through brutal winters, believing Bodie was worth saving as a living relic of the American West. Though he lacked money and official backing - and ultimately couldn’t stop time from taking its toll - Cain’s stubborn dedication helped prevent Bodie from being completely dismantled. His efforts laid the emotional and practical groundwork for Bodie’s later preservation, and today the town stands in a state of “arrested decay” largely because someone once cared enough to try.
Bodie, CA located at over 8000 feet altitude in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, is one of the best preserved ghost towns in the country. Now a State Historic Park, at the end of the 19th century Bodie was the second largest town in California (after San Francisco). As a gold and silver mining town it had its heydays around 1879.
Having visited Bodie a couple of times before, finally in April of 2013 I paid for a permit to enter seven buildings. A monitor was with me and understandably I had to adhere to a lot of rules, as to not damage anything. I had to fold my tripod each time as I moved around, and couldn't touch cobwebs or dust on the old furniture.
This is a limited edition of 20 images at any size. If you are interested in a particular size, frame, mat or have general questions about this piece, please either email me or call me
