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Monte Dodge | profile | all galleries >> Ghost Towns of the Pacific Northwest >> Liberty Washington tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Liberty Washington

Near Blewitt Pass
Old Crane from Liberty Ghost Town
Old Crane from Liberty Ghost Town		 Old Cabin in Ghost Town of Liberty
Old Cabin in Ghost Town of Liberty		 Old Shovel. in Ghost Town of Liberty
Old Shovel. in Ghost Town of Liberty		 Liberty Red House
Liberty Red House
Retro Snow Mobiles
Retro Snow Mobiles		 One Of The Last Cabins In Liberty
One Of The Last Cabins In Liberty		 Cheese Burgers From Liberty Cafe ( Kandis Working Hard!)
Cheese Burgers From Liberty Cafe ( Kandis Working Hard!)		 Old Miners Chairs Still Sit On Porch Of Miners Cabin
Old Miners Chairs Still Sit On Porch Of Miners Cabin
Snow On Abandoned Cabin In Ghost Town Of Liberty
Snow On Abandoned Cabin In Ghost Town Of Liberty		 100 Year Old Jack Kirsch Who Was One Of The Last Old Timers Of Liberty
100 Year Old " Jack Kirsch" Who Was One Of The Last "Old Timers " Of Liberty		 Swauk Mining Office In Liberty Wash.
Swauk Mining Office In Liberty Wash.		 State Highway Snow Ogger Abandoned In Liberty
State Highway " Snow Ogger" Abandoned In Liberty
Abandoned Miners Cabin On Main Street.
Abandoned Miners Cabin On Main Street.		 Town Firetruck
Town Firetruck		 Bulldozer From Mine
Bulldozer From Mine

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Corrina 22-Oct-2013 20:27
My grandparents live in Liberty (Del and Nancy Holter). They purchased land there about 20-something years ago--the land Jack Kirsch lived on--when my retired Marine grandfather decided to go into the gold mining hobby. Jack stayed on in the small cabin after my grandparents bought the place until he passed. He was a very intelligent man and had quite the collection of books from astrology (yes, astrology, not astronomy) to history. People typically know him for his "Ellensburg Blues" collection. His cabin is still there next to my grandparents' house.

A lot has changed in Liberty but the landmarks remain the same; Charlie's mine is now owned by a big company and is under pad and lock, and old dilapidated cabins cover up mine entrances. If you drive through you'll see big mining equipment off the sides of the road, some of which belongs to my grandfather. He loves to talk, by the way, and passersby often stop at his place for information.

And in answer to someone's question about whether they have festivals out in Liberty...they usually do a small 4th of July parade and my grandma does an annual potluck in August. This year was the biggest turnout I've seen so far and it was a blast.

Anyway, it was pretty neat coming across this site while I was searching for information on a Liberty gold mine, and a pleasant surprise to see Jack and my grandfather's names on here. There are lots more people still out in Liberty, and lots of the old timers are passing on (Bill, too, for the person looking for him), but many remain...privately :).
Old Timer 02-Jan-2013 01:02
When going to Liberty make sure you don't pan for Gold or mess with someones claim. It's a Felony in the State of Washington....and yes people with legal claims carry guns to guard against thefts and damage to property.
Nora Bowman 20-Jun-2012 15:25
I have heard about the town of Liberty for many many years. Finally last year for the first time in my 30 years of living in this state i finally got to go and visit it for the first time. I reside in Moses Lake, WA and on "Fathers Day Weekend", 2011 along with my daughter and my son in law, and my 2 grand children i went to liberty for the weekend and it was the best camping trip of my life! What a beautiful place! The air is fresh and the scenery beautiful! We spend 3 days there, we hiked around the area, panned in the creek, and hit the jeep trails every day we were there, what fun we all had. I just returned from ther again this year, just this past weekend for Fathers Day. Again, what a fabulous time we all had. The weather was wonderful and the town of Liberty looks as beautiful as ever! The few families still left living there, take great pride in the upkeeping of the buildings and surrounding area. We spent 4 nights and 5 days there with a large group of 4x4'ers from Moses Lake, WA., the club has been coming there for years on Father's Day weekend to spend it with their familes and loved ones hitting the trails, relaxing, and hiking and enjoying the beautiful surroundings that Liberty has to offer. It is definately now one of my favorite places to go and I will continue to return there with my family for as long as I walk this earth every year on Father's Day Weekend! I encourage all who have never expirenced Liberty to try and make it a camping trip that will be the relaxing, enjoyeable, family outting that will never be forgotten if expirenced! However it is totally a camping trip that doesn't have the accomdations such as running water and toliets, unless you bring your camping trailer or motorhome. We prefer to tent camp. We "pack out" everything we "pack in", of course. The main road up the mountain is easily accessible either by car or truck(or bicycle, motorcycle, hiker, etc.) with off the roadside choice of camping pretty much whereever you choose. There is at the very start of the road a small campground with restrooms, (not sure if they have showers, I don't think so) and a fire pit(when fires are still permitted in early spring). I definately recommend this as a must expirience trip for all of those who enjoy the great outdoors, hikers, bikers, 4x4'er's, and the nature lover's!
Sgt Ski 18-May-2012 02:53
Awesome shots. My wife and I are heading out that way this weekend. Any chane you saw any signs of the Wall St Mine?
Monte Dodge24-Nov-2011 00:32
For terry,, chill,,,
Terry O'Neil 04-May-2010 20:54
hello>>i'm Terry Oneil, i live in Seattle and have been in Wa all my life, but never have been in Liberty, have a question: where do i get permission to Metal Detect 5/4/2010
Cindy 20-Mar-2010 17:20
Following a business meeting in Ellensburg last week, my husband and I spontaneously decided to visit Liberty. It is an enchanting little town, and I would love to go back and explore more of it. It looked mostly deserted; although, it was apparent that it is loved, cared for and protected. Are there ever any festivals or events in Liberty?
Nick & Jo Byma 04-Feb-2010 23:30
Newly married,almost 40 years ago, we owned 85 acres of patented mining claims in the valley, with a cabin, where we spent most of the time while building a cabin of our own, with my lifelong friend Theo from Holland. We had a great time with Jack Kirsch, Monty who had lost his horse,Tom Clingen, the Barkers,old Oly, Ed, 'Junior' and, above all, our dearest friends Mr. & Mrs Ray Pettigrew,a hard working ranch couple. Everybody was talking about digging up gold nuggets and wire gold, or just panning for plain "color'. We've seen it all!
We've heard the whistle of the elks in the winter, walked the long walks in pitch-dark to get water from the spring, ate hot pancakes with the Pettigrews, and enjoyed the town parties with the craziest, loveliest bunch of people you will only read about in books. And then there's Jack Kirsh, THE original old-timer! You couldn't out-talk him or out-smart him, and we, as young as we were, couldn't out-walk him on our hikes with him.
We still go back there once in awhile to reminisce, but the best thing of all that ever came out of Liberty, is our oldest son, who proudly wears the label "Made in Liberty".
Shyla Banker 18-Dec-2009 05:35
We have a family cabin in Liberty since my dad was a child (50 yrs +) and I love going to Liberty whenever we can go! I will always remember walking down to good ol Ed's store for our weekend treat or taking a trip into the hills and to the Sand stones. I'm a New Years baby and I have NEVER had a birthday celebrated outside of Liberty and I don't think I ever will :) Can't wait until we get there it is beautiful year round!
Ken 01-Dec-2009 05:47
I can remember helping Jack in his mine 25 years ago.
Mary 05-Nov-2009 03:26
Looking for a copy of Rock Hound Magazine that has an article about Liberty, WA; with Bert Fletcher a saloon keeper mentioned.
Lisa B. 17-Oct-2009 08:28
My husband and I visited Liberty this past weekend and took a drive east of town up into the hills (Boulder Creek RD). A few miles up we came upon a 10x10 dry "cabin" with a larger detached garage actually for sale (listed by Windermere Realty.) In front of the cabin were these rectangular cement blocks/slabs actually poured into holes in the ground that had names carved into the wet cement. Two of the names were "Baby Altice P C" and (what appeared to be) "Eve Harris Phillips." Another one looked like it said "Bristol Johnson." First glance suggests these were headstones (homemade?), but there were no dates of any kind on them. Does anyone know what these are/? Thanks! - Lisa B., Carnation, WA
Guest 28-Jul-2009 07:18
Every year my family and I go over to Chelan in Eastern Washington. So one year we decided to drive through Liberty. That was the first time we actualy noticed it. But ever since we have wondered why Liberty is so historic when ever we drive past. I was wondering if someone could possibly tell me?
Thankyou
Brandon Douglass 16-Jul-2009 03:52
i had been to libery and the campgrounds before it for 14 years in a row every fathers day weekend since i was born. havent made it the last two years due to work, but it is an awsome place to go, all the 4x4 trails are a blast the town is really cool with all the old mining equipment and all the nice house people have made there. all the hidden mines up in the mountains are a blast to go explore also.

missing it up there.
Guest 20-Jun-2009 21:01
Guest
Liberty is not quite a "ghost town" yet. There are still a few full timers there. Gone is Ed's Store but Del Holter had taken his place. The ghosts of old sourdough's still haunt the abandoned tunnels and digs of the town and the area but the search for gold still goes on. I have mined the Liberty area since the early 1970's and I still find a little gold there now and then. Digger
Raymond Griffith 12-Apr-2009 10:58
I really appreciated the help received in locating the 'Bill' inquired about previously. Thanks to both those who helped. Ray
Guest 11-Apr-2009 08:09
I was in liberty wednsday morning 4-8-09 kandis was still working hard at serving delitious burgers or breakfast which ever you prefer (after 11am no plate sized pancakes).
liberty is still about the same as it has been for years.
Wishing I was still there... but as whith most of us I have to work for a living...but the weekend is coming soon so I think I will go see Kandis again.(at the Liberty cafe)
Raymond Griffith 09-Mar-2009 14:18
I met Jack around fifty years ago - camping in area with my parents. He was doing some work on a large sandstone rock that another family was attempting to mine as fireplace rock face. The father of this family had been a pilot, saw this outcrop, and tried to mine it. I think they had determined the rock was not hard enough.
We visited Jack at his home, which at that time was on the right (south) side as you drove in to Liberty. We went there to see his rock collection. He had one agate I recall that had coloration in it (as cut) that looked like an old locomotive with smoke crossing a desert at sunset. Fond memories.
Does anyone know a guy, late fifties, large build, named Bill (maybe Wild Bill) having a place and some claims in and around Liberty? He also worked at Boeing, doing machining cut paths, so you may know him in relation to machining. If so ask him to contact me (Ray Griffith) at: rayvenforya@hotmail.com - Thanks.
Dutchman 06-Mar-2009 14:43
I lived in Liberty, on the Jack Kirsch claim, for three years. That was thirty years ago. Old Jack is gone now, after 101 years, and with him went many great stories of pioneer living. I spent many long winter evenings in his cabin, hearing him tell, in vivid detail, of events that had formed the man, Jacob (Jack) Kirsch. He is greatly missed. Del Holter has Jack's place now and is doing a great job of preserving the memory of life in Liberty. For those who want to visit: From I-90 at Ellensburg, go north on US 97 about 20 miles. Liberty Road to the right takes you to Jack's place on the left just before you reach "downtown" Liberty. Take some flowers for Jack.
Claude Bergeron 05-Jan-2009 05:50
I like good old towns with there history and the people who lives there.
I wish one of these days to go visit this little town with a big and facinating history I'm sure.

From Ontario, Canada.
Guest 16-Jun-2008 20:57
I visited Liberty this past Saturday June 14th 2008...it is two miles off of the main road...We met the people that have "100 year old Jack's" house. They've made a nice little country store with lots of interesting stuff outside. They sell gold samples as a couple of the privately owned mines are still in use. Anyway, it's an interesting place to visit...the few residents are friendly......great times....JON
Carolyn 23-Feb-2008 21:35
I am planning on driving through Washington in August or September of 2008.
Can I get exact directions to Liberty? are the buildings still there?
Ashley 08-Jan-2008 19:21
Brings back memories seeing old Liberty. I used to spend the summer with my grandparents who owned the store there. It's been years since ive been up there, so its nice to see pictures!
Jola Dziubinska23-Dec-2006 21:08
So you were back to Libery in winter time now, Monte. Wonderful excursion, lovely sunny winter weather.
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