In this short monograph, Shelton highlights the protocols, the “do” and “don’t” as it were, of ghost-towning—visiting such sites and abandoned mining camps in the American West. His most important point is don’t be a blackguard. Leave these historical sites, non-renewable re-sources of our past as they are for future generations to visit. For over a century, the romantic mystique of gold rushes, gunfights, and saloons of the western town has captured popular imagination. Hollywood fantasy publicity engenders folks to visit these precious remnants of time gone by. Unfortunately, ghost towns are fragile resources vulnerable to the environment, artifact collectors, thieves, and vandals. Over the years, such scalawags have done incredible damage to our dwindling historic sites. Once a ghost town is gone, it is gone forever.

Shelton discusses maps and latitude and longitude, road conditions, weather, water, survival equipment and strategy, cautions, and driving conditions.

​

Lamplight Press, 2015

Paperback format: 9 x 6 inches