Then & Now: Volcano, California

Position mouse cursor over image to see my 1989 photo. Move mouse cursor off image to see my 2001 photo.

To walk the streets of Volcano is to step into a different time. Here in the heart of California's Gold Country, in the foothills of the western Sierra Nevada, history is all around you. Volcano's photogenic stone ruins have earned the town a reputation as one of the west's classic ghost towns. But Volcano is still very much a living town. The rock facade seen here, which dates from 1851 and sat unused only a few years ago, has recently been reborn as a community theater. Along the main street, you will find restaurants and hotels occupying vintage buildings. Buy an ice cream in the old-fashioned general store, sit outside and watch the main road through town. The pace may be slower than the hustle and bustle of the big city, but there is plenty to see for those who take the time.

Rose -- 70-year-old Volcano native and unofficial town greeter.

Classic truck, decorated for Independence Day, parked in front of the St. George Hotel.

While the town of Volcano is open to the public, many of the buildings are occupied; please respect the privacy of the residents.