Panamint City, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Panamint City
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 Panamint City
Location in California
Panamint City
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Inyo County |
| Elevation | 6,302 ft (1,921 m) |
Panamint City is a ghost town in the Panamint Range, close to Death Valley in Inyo County, California, USA. It's also known simply as Panamint. This town became very busy after silver and copper were found there in 1872. By 1874, about 2,000 people lived there. Panamint City had a main street that was about one mile (1.6 km) long. It even had its own newspaper called the Panamint News. Silver was the most important metal mined in this area.
Contents
Panamint City's Story
Early Days and Discovery
Before Panamint City was built, the area was home to Native American groups. Ancient pictographs, which are rock paintings, show that the Shoshone and Kawaiisu people lived in Surprise Canyon.
Silver was first found by three men: William L. Kennedy, Robert L. Stewart, and Richard C. Jacobs. They were using Surprise Canyon as a hiding spot when they made the discovery.
Life in the Mining Town
Panamint City was founded in 1873-1874. It quickly grew to have many mills for processing ore. There were also saloons, stores, and a cemetery. All these buildings were located at the top end of Surprise Canyon.
The town had a reputation for being a wild place. Because of this, a famous delivery company called Wells Fargo refused to open an office there. To solve the problem of moving the valuable silver, people came up with a clever idea. They melted the silver into huge, heavy cannonballs. These cannonballs, weighing 450 pounds each, were then taken to Los Angeles in wagons without guards.
The Flood and Later Years
On July 24, 1876, a sudden flash flood rushed down the canyon. The powerful water washed away most of the town's buildings. This event marked the beginning of the end for Panamint City.
For many years, a road allowed large vehicles to reach Panamint City. However, in 1983, a series of very strong rainstorms completely washed out the canyon. This made the road impassable. Some old vehicles, like house trailers and mining trucks, are still abandoned there.
In 1994, much of Panamint City and Surprise Canyon became part of Death Valley National Park. However, some land, buildings, and the washed-out road are still private property.
Accessing Panamint City Today
In 2001, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) closed the road to vehicles with a locked gate. This was due to a lawsuit from environmental groups. Property owners in Panamint City can still access their land.
Today, reaching Panamint City is a challenge. It requires a difficult 7.5-mile hike. Even experienced hikers find the journey strenuous.
A post office operated in Panamint at different times. It was open from 1874 to 1877, then from 1882 to 1883, and finally from 1887 to 1895.
