Ghost Towns of the Santa Cruz Mountains

Great research and an enjoyable early history of the early communities making up Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties

My Parents bought land off Loma Prieta Ave. in the Santa Cruz Mountains back in 1973. My Family still resides here. I grew up in these Mountains, they were my stomping grounds. I am just starting to dig into the rich History behind these incredible mountains! I am half way through this book and I am glued to it. Very cool read!

I lived in the South Bay and visited the Santa Cruz area on a weekly (or more) basis. I had no idea that during that drive along Highway 17, I was surrounded by so much history. I learned much from this book, about the history of the area, and how many of the cities came to be.

Ghost Towns Of The Santa Cruz Mountains is a human and cultural history of the region covers the California mountains from 1850 to the middle of this century, examining the lives of early settlers in a lively manner which reads like newspaper stories. Individual chapters cover various aspects of mining and logging, the rough living conditions, and is well written treatise that will appeal to anyone with an interest in regional California history and culture.