After a wonderful four days at the World of Speed event at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, I headed off on US Highway 93 (via Alt 93) to the Eastern Sierras in California.  I was in no hurry . . . and planned to stay at a campground somewhere along the way.

I came across this road leading up to some hills with a sign that said "Cherry Creek Museum 8 Miles" that looked interesting to me.  Why not?  Maybe it is an old photogenic mining town.

Yep, sure enough: Cherry Creek was an old mining town that had seen its glory days in the 1880-1890s. Just what I had hoped!

The blooming sage and the old weathered houses made for perfect compositions.

Some of the shacks seemed much older than others . . . perhaps dating to the beginning of the last century.

Much repairing and patching was done before these old houses were abandoned.

The old and the new(er).

In 1882, Cherry Creek was estimated to have had a population of 7800, but by the census of 1890, it had fallen to just 350.  In 2007 the population was 93 (61 male and 32 female).  I did not see a single solitary person during my one hour walk-about.

Corrugation and dilapidation . . . my favorite photographic subjects.

There were some lovely photos to be had.

Although I didn't see any of the 93 inhabitants, I did see a nice rustic garden.

Patching, propping, and repairing right up to the end.

I saw several of these houses in the region that seemed to be made of large timbers like railroad ties.

The 'townsite' was literally littered with old antique trailers . . .

. . . and old motor homes.  These residents may live out "in the middle of nowhere" . . . but they are by no means remote:  there is fiber optic cable!!!

A very cool juxtaposition of old and new . . . .

At some point in the recent past there was commerce here . . . this old store was for sale.

The Cherry Creek Museum was the old school house.  It was closed, but a map on the door told you which trailer door to knock on to get a tour.

"One of the oldest standing one room schools in Nevada.  Built in 1872."

There was this wonderful commemorative plaque attached to the old school.

Oh the memories these children made!  At it's peak there were 66 students.  Where are all those 'children' now?

Outhouses.

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