{"id":1803,"date":"2014-01-06T13:28:05","date_gmt":"2014-01-06T21:28:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.americanriverwildlife.com\/?p=1803"},"modified":"2014-01-07T17:03:20","modified_gmt":"2014-01-08T01:03:20","slug":"mormon-island-exposed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.americanriverwildlife.com\/?p=1803","title":{"rendered":"Mormon Island Exposed"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mormon<\/a>
Undated Photo; Mormon Island<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the height of the gold rush\u00a0Mormon Island was once a thriving gold mining camp. In its heyday, the town had 2500 residents (mostly Mormon), 4 hotels, 7 saloons, and 1 school.<\/p>\n

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\"Exposed<\/a>
Exposed foundations and other artifacts draws hundreds of curious explorers. Photo: AmericanRiverWildlife.com<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

The town dwindled along with gold fever and by the 1950s there were no more than a few residents left. What was left of the town was eventually flooded in 1955 with the creation of\u00a0Folsom Lake.<\/p>\n

\"As<\/a>
As California’s drought continues more pre-dam artifacts are exposed by the receding water. \u00a0Photo: AmericanRiverWildlife.com<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The only remnants of this town are sometimes visible during extreme drought years, as foundations of houses lie underwater.There is a relocation cemetery located south of the lake, where residents were moved before the lake was filled. A few unknown residents of\u00a0Prairie City\u00a0were also transported there when they were discovered during Intel\u2019s onramp construction.<\/p>\n

\"Rusty<\/a>
Rusty nails, fence parts, glass and other items are displayed on the exposed foundations of Mormon Island. Photo: AmericanRiverWildlife.com<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mormon Island was also known at the time as Mormon Diggins, Mormon Diggings, and Lower Mines.<\/p>\n

\"Mormon<\/a>
Mormon Island artifacts. Photo: AmericanRiverWildlife.com<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The lake bed near the Dyke 8 area of Folsom Lake show evidence of large scale construction. Photo: AmericanRiverWildlife.com<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you go:<\/p>\n