Harrisburg - California Ghost Town

HARRISBURG

NAME: Harrisburg
COUNTY: Inyo
ROADS: 2WD
GRID #(see map): 2
CLIMATE: Snow in winter, warm in summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: March thru October.
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COMMENTS: In Death Valley NP @ about 6000 ft elevation. It's 13 mi. N on Wildrose Canyon Rd. off of Hwy 178, and another 5 mi off the right on a 2WD dirt road.
There is a small mine that you can walk in.
REMAINS: A few buildings are left.

The Town is named after Death Valley miner Shorty Harris. He and friend Pete Auguereberry stake gold claims there in 1906, and very shortly a town was born. It grew to be home for several hundred other prospectors, but their homes were just tents. Within a few days of the original discovery, another claim started (which would soon become Skidoo), and everyone left. Auguereberry came back later and worked the mine for many years. The building still standing are the remains of his home. Submitted by Kurt Bayburt. Alan Patera inspects the shaft of the Cashier Mine. This mine was originally located by Shorty Harris. In later years it ended up being mined by Pete Aguereberry, who tapped into it through his adjoining Eureka Mine. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright Richard Campbell peers into the hoisting works of one of the Cashier Mine portals. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright Cashier Mill ruins. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright Many scattered stone footings that once held tents are found through the Harrisburg townsite. Cashier Mill ruins dominate the background. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright The Eureka Mine. The mine is safe enough that there are interpretive displays located inside the mine, accessible to a depth of about 300 feet. The Park Service keeps the mine closed to entrance through winter due to the hibernation habits of the Townsend Bat, which hibernates during the winter. If anyone would disturb the bat while hibernating, it could expend vital stored fats needed to keep it alive throughout winter hibernation while fleeing individuals that wander in. The mine used to have a heavy door frame, sign indicating the Eureka Mine, and wooden door up to about 1994, but has since been replaced by this one. WESTERN PLACES publisher Alan Patera and Richard Campbell explore the mine. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright Ruins of the Cashier Mill, Harrisburg. This is located on the south side of Providence Ridge. View is southwest. Harrisburg townsite occupied the flat below the mill, comprised of primarily tent dwellings with wooden floors and subwalls. The Cashier Mill was a producer before closing down about 1911. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright View north from the top of Providence Ridge across Harrisburg Flat. Pete Aguereberry's camp is below. The original road from Harrisburg to Skidoo runs across the valley, before turning east to run around the hills to the Skidoo townsite, about ten miles away by road. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright	One of thousands of tin cans found scattered throughout Harrisburg townsite. The Cashier Mill ruins dominate the background. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright Frame and corrugated tin shack of unknown origin at Harrisburg townsite. This building was standing intact until about 1995, when it began to collapse. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright Aguereberry Camp, found on the north side of Providence Ridge. This was the neat and tidy camp owned and occupied by the Basque prospector and miner, Pete Aguereberry, who with Shorty Harris founded Harrisburg. His mine, the Eureka, is located at the east end of Providence Ridge, in the middle background around the end of the near hills. Pete lived in this house up to the time of his death in 1945. December 28, 1998. Courrtesy David A. Wright Aguereberry Camp. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright Inside the bathroom of Aguereberry's cabin. In 1990, the author found this cabin well kept and clean, cleaning supplies were found in the cabinets, and some rudimentary furniture was found inside. Over the years I have found more decay and vandalism, such as this hole senselessly punched through the wall and decayed flooring December 28, 1998. The living room ceiling was also collapsed, and daylight could be seen through the roof. There is no furniture other than bathroom fixtures left inside the cabin. Courtesy David A. Wright Aguereberry Point, elevation 6,433 feet. The point was named for Pete Aguereberry by the Automobile Club of Southern California shortly after Death Valley became a National Monument. Pete created the road to this point, a few miles east of Harrisburg at the crest of the Panamint Range. This scene looks southeast into the morning sunlight of Death Valley. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright Aguereberry Point, looking northeast across Death Valley. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright Ore cart tracks issuing forth from the Eureka Mine, owned by Pete Aguereberry until his death in 1945, later worked by his nephew Ambrose Aguereberry. December 28, 1998. Courtesy David A. Wright My friend, Jim Sauter, explores within the Eureka Mine at Harrisburg. The mine is safe enough that Death Valley National Park allows exploration in the months that the Townsend bat is not hibernating, interpretive displays are found within the mine. January 1991. Courtesy David A. Wright

The Town is named after Death Valley miner Shorty Harris. He and friend Pete Auguereberry stake gold claims there in 1906, and very shortly a town was born. It grew to be home for several hundred other prospectors, but their homes were just tents. Within a few days of the original discovery, another claim started (which would soon become Skidoo), and everyone left. Auguereberry came back later and worked the mine for many years. The building still standing are the remains of his home. Submitted by Kurt Bayburt.

Alan Patera inspects the shaft of the Cashier Mine. This mine was originally located by Shorty Harris. In later years it ended up being mined by Pete Aguereberry, who tapped into it through his adjoining Eureka Mine. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

Richard Campbell peers into the hoisting works of one of the Cashier Mine portals. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

Cashier Mill ruins. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

Many scattered stone footings that once held tents are found through the Harrisburg townsite. Cashier Mill ruins dominate the background. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

The Eureka Mine. The mine is safe enough that there are interpretive displays located inside the mine, accessible to a depth of about 300 feet. The Park Service keeps the mine closed to entrance through winter due to the hibernation habits of the Townsend Bat, which hibernates during the winter. If anyone would disturb the bat while hibernating, it could expend vital stored fats needed to keep it alive throughout winter hibernation while fleeing individuals that wander in. The mine used to have a heavy door frame, sign indicating the Eureka Mine, and wooden door up to about 1994, but has since been replaced by this one. WESTERN PLACES publisher Alan Patera and Richard Campbell explore the mine. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

Ruins of the Cashier Mill, Harrisburg. This is located on the south side of Providence Ridge. View is southwest. Harrisburg townsite occupied the flat below the mill, comprised of primarily tent dwellings with wooden floors and subwalls. The Cashier Mill was a producer before closing down about 1911. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

View north from the top of Providence Ridge across Harrisburg Flat. Pete Aguereberry's camp is below. The original road from Harrisburg to Skidoo runs across the valley, before turning east to run around the hills to the Skidoo townsite, about ten miles away by road. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

One of thousands of tin cans found scattered throughout Harrisburg townsite. The Cashier Mill ruins dominate the background. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

Frame and corrugated tin shack of unknown origin at Harrisburg townsite. This building was standing intact until about 1995, when it began to collapse. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

Aguereberry Camp, found on the north side of Providence Ridge. This was the neat and tidy camp owned and occupied by the Basque prospector and miner, Pete Aguereberry, who with Shorty Harris founded Harrisburg. His mine, the Eureka, is located at the east end of Providence Ridge, in the middle background around the end of the near hills. Pete lived in this house up to the time of his death in 1945. December 28, 1998.
Courrtesy David A. Wright

Aguereberry Camp. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

Inside the bathroom of Aguereberry's cabin. In 1990, the author found this cabin well kept and clean, cleaning supplies were found in the cabinets, and some rudimentary furniture was found inside. Over the years I have found more decay and vandalism, such as this hole senselessly punched through the wall and decayed flooring December 28, 1998. The living room ceiling was also collapsed, and daylight could be seen through the roof. There is no furniture other than bathroom fixtures left inside the cabin.
Courtesy David A. Wright

Aguereberry Point, elevation 6,433 feet. The point was named for Pete Aguereberry by the Automobile Club of Southern California shortly after Death Valley became a National Monument. Pete created the road to this point, a few miles east of Harrisburg at the crest of the Panamint Range. This scene looks southeast into the morning sunlight of Death Valley. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

Aguereberry Point, looking northeast across Death Valley. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

Ore cart tracks issuing forth from the Eureka Mine, owned by Pete Aguereberry until his death in 1945, later worked by his nephew Ambrose Aguereberry. December 28, 1998.
Courtesy David A. Wright

My friend, Jim Sauter, explores within the Eureka Mine at Harrisburg. The mine is safe enough that Death Valley National Park allows exploration in the months that the Townsend bat is not hibernating, interpretive displays are found within the mine. January 1991.
Courtesy David A. Wright

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