Exploring El Alamo: A Lost Treasure from the 1800s Gold Rush! (Baja, Mexico)

Exploring El Alamo: A Lost Treasure from the 1800s Gold Rush! (Baja, Mexico)

VISIT MY WEBSITE: https://www.milesandhikes.com El Alamo, a near-abandoned ghost town from the 1800s Gold Rush in Baja California, lies just nine miles off the Ensenada to San Felipe highway 3. Its story began in 1888 with the discovery of gold by prospectors Rafael López and Juan Antonio Melendez, leading to Baja California’s largest gold rush. Known as the Santa Clara fields at the time, the site saw an influx of miners in 1889, with some traveling from as far as San Diego. By May 1889, the bustling mining district boasted a population exceeding 1,600, complete with a newspaper, “The Alamo Nugget” and productive mines such as Princesa, Aurora, and Penelope. The 560-foot-deep Princesa mine shaft remains a testament to the town’s former glory.

By the mid-20th century, the population dwindled, particularly during World War II, but traces of its golden past endure. Visitors today can explore remnants of El Álamo’s history, including ruins of mines and a charming church with a bell tower. A smooth, graded road off Highway 3 at Km. 85.5 leads to this hauntingly beautiful ghost town. Stories of visible gold nuggets on the ground still persist, adding allure for modern adventurers.

Real del Castillo Viejo, another gold rush town: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mMHCeaDRTQ

EXACT GOOGLE MAPS LOCATION: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Yxp7m72SEN9qk3yD8

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
00:29 – Abandoned Houses
04:56 – Church
06:25 – Abandoned Adobe Houses
07:52 – 1800s Gold Mine and Mill
12:18 – Modern Mining
13:42 – Old Trash
14:39 – Cemetery
16:45 – Town
17:07 – Roadside Chapel
18:05 – Outro

Text Credits: https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/el_alamo

My copyright free music is from EPIDEMIC SOUND
For a 30-day FREE trial: https://share.epidemicsound.com/41vf3j