Leadfield - California Ghost Town

LEADFIELD

NAME: Leadfield
COUNTY: Inyo
ROADS: Two wheel drive can probably make it, but I would recommend a high clearance vehicle. Also, the road going through Titus Canyon is one way,
east to west.
GRID #(see map): 3
CLIMATE: Mild winter, hot summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Winter, fall, spring

COMMENTS: Death Valley area.
REMAINS: Currently there are only 3-4 metal buildings and a couple of mine entrances
left, as well as the frame of an old truck.

Gold was discovered in Leadfield around 1904 and the town's big boom was in 1926-27. An auto road was built to the town and businesses sprang up from nothing in months. Then, a man named Charles Julian entered the picture. Julian sold stock in the mine and was very successful at it. It seemed, though, that he jumped the gun and had not obtained a permit for selling the stock. Despite having sold 300,000 shares, and the town having 93 blocks, by 1927 it was all gone. The gold has run out and Julian fled eventually to Shanghai where he died at the age of 40. Today there are only a few ruins left at Leadfield, and its greatest legacy seems to be the Titus canyon road, built at a cost of $60,000 at the time. Leadfield, California: Russ Leadabrand wrote an article for the Desert Magazine, January 1957, Boom And Bust At Leadfield Page 11, only one photo and a map. Its a short article, but the photo is worth a visit if nothing else. Big Sandy Leadfield Courtesy Dolores Steele Leadfield Courtesy Dolores Steele Leadfield Courtesy Dolores Steele Leadfield Courtesy Dolores Steele Leadfield Courtesy Dolores Steele Leadfield. D.A. Wright photo Leadfield. D.A. Wright photo Leadfield. D.A. Wright photo Leadfield/Chloride From the Johnnie Walker Collection Courtesy Charlie Osborn Leadfield/Chloride From the Johnnie Walker Collection Courtesy Charlie Osborn Leadfield/Chloride From the Johnnie Walker Collection Courtesy Charlie Osborn Leadfield Courtesy Bill Cook Leadfield Building Courtesy Bill Cook Dead Leadfield Courtesy Bill Cook Rock Dwelling Courtesy Bill Cook	View westward from spectacular Red Pass and the road that C.C. Julian carved out from this wonderful topography to work out his swindle town of Leadfield. January 1997. Courtesy David A. Wright Great Basin Research Collapsed remains at east side of townsite. January 1997. Courtesy David A. Wright Great Basin Research Leadfield townsite and historic marker. January 1997. Courtesy David A. Wright Great Basin Research Leadfield townsite. January 1997. Courtesy David A. Wright Great Basin Research Remains of what appears to have been a shop / warehouse situated next to large mine portal. January 1997. Courtesy David A. Wright Great Basin Research Leadfield. D.A. Wright photo Leadfield. D.A. Wright photo Leadfield. D.A. Wright photo Leadfield/Chloride From the Johnnie Walker Collection Courtesy Charlie Osborn Leadfield/Chloride From the Johnnie Walker Collection Courtesy Charlie Osborn Tailings Courtesy Bill Cook Leadfield looking through windows Courtesy Bill Cook Leadfield Courtesy Bill Cook

Gold was discovered in Leadfield around 1904 and the town's big boom was in 1926-27. An auto road was built to the town and businesses sprang up from nothing in months. Then, a man named Charles Julian entered the picture. Julian sold stock in the mine and was very successful at it. It seemed, though, that he jumped the gun and had not obtained a permit for selling the stock. Despite having sold 300,000 shares, and the town having 93 blocks, by 1927 it was all gone. The gold has run out and Julian fled eventually to Shanghai where he died at the age of 40. Today there are only a few ruins left at Leadfield, and its greatest legacy seems to be the Titus canyon road, built at a cost of $60,000 at the time.

Leadfield, California: Russ Leadabrand wrote an article for the Desert Magazine, January 1957, Boom And Bust At Leadfield

Page 11, only one photo and a map. Its a short article, but the photo is worth a visit if nothing else.

Big Sandy

Leadfield
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Leadfield. D.A. Wright photo

Leadfield/Chloride
From the Johnnie Walker Collection
Courtesy Charlie Osborn

Leadfield
Courtesy Bill Cook

Leadfield Building
Courtesy Bill Cook

Dead Leadfield
Courtesy Bill Cook

Rock Dwelling
Courtesy Bill Cook

View westward from spectacular Red Pass and the road that C.C. Julian carved out from this wonderful topography to work out his swindle town of Leadfield. January 1997.
Courtesy David A. Wright
Great Basin Research

Collapsed remains at east side of townsite. January 1997.
Courtesy David A. Wright
Great Basin Research

Leadfield townsite and historic marker. January 1997.
Courtesy David A. Wright
Great Basin Research

Leadfield townsite. January 1997.
Courtesy David A. Wright
Great Basin Research

Remains of what appears to have been a shop / warehouse situated next to large mine portal. January 1997.
Courtesy David A. Wright
Great Basin Research

Leadfield. D.A. Wright photo

Leadfield/Chloride
From the Johnnie Walker Collection
Courtesy Charlie Osborn

Tailings
Courtesy Bill Cook

Leadfield looking through windows
Courtesy Bill Cook

Leadfield
Courtesy Bill Cook

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