DOG TOWN

NAME: Dog Town
COUNTY: Mono
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 1
CLIMATE: Warm, pleasant summers, and cold, snowy winters.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer 		COMMENTS: Location: Along HWY 395 just south of the intersection with HWY 270.
REMAINS: Partial stone walls of two hovels.
In 1857 Dog Town was the site of the first major gold rush to California’s eastern slope or the Sierra Nevada. Dog Town derived its name from a popular miner’s term for camps with huts or hovels. Ruins lying close to the cliff bordering Dog Town Creek are all that remain of the makeshift dwellings which formed part of the “diggins.” Dog Town is California registered historical landmark number 792. When the waters of Dog Creek showed color in the 1850s, miners rushed to the eastern Sierra. Dog Town was said to have produced the largest nugget ever found on the Sierras eastern slope. Dog Creeks gold deposits were not extensive and within a couple of years miners moved on to more exciting diggins at the new Monoville strike a few miles south. Dog Town was never very profitable, though it was significant as being the first eastern Sierra placer settlement. This brought attention to other areas such as Bodie, Aurora, Masonic, and Virginia City that proved to be more profitable. This information was taken from the road side placard. If you are as lucky as I was while visiting. You may also have the pleasure of chatting with someone who, even today is panning for gold at this site. Submitted by: Bruce Depue


Dogtown Bridge
Courtesy Bill Cook


Dogtown Residence Remains
Courtesy Bill Cook


Dogtown Grave Maker
Courtesy Bill Cook


Dogtown Cemetery
Courtesy Bill Cook


Dogtown Town Marker
Courtesy Bill Cook


Dogtown Remains
Courtesy Bill Cook


Dogtown
Courtesy Bill Cook

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