In 1877, the mining operations in Bodie, California were bought out by the Standard Mining Company and within months, the partners discovered a significant vein of rich gold ore. Profits rose dramatically and by the end of 1878 Bodie's, population had soared to some 5,000 people. The Standard Mine would yield nearly 15 million dollars in gold over the next 25 years. Photo by Kathy Weiser-Alexander.