This Sierra Nevada Town Survived a Devastating 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake That Killed 27 People in 1872

Lone Pine, California

A single traffic light marks the center of Lone Pine, but this town has been the backdrop for over 400 films since 1920. The same rocks that stood in for India in ‘Gunga Din’ and the planet Vulcan in ‘Star Trek V’ are now covered in climbing chalk.

1872 earthquake destroyed an entire town

The 1872 earthquake struck Lone Pine at 2:30 AM, measuring 7.4–7.9. It destroyed 52 buildings and killed 27 people (over 10% of the population).

The 1872 quake shifted the ground nearly 17 feet upward and 35–40 feet sideways along the fault, rivaling the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

You can still see signs of it in the landscape today.

Different landscapes meet in one spot

Lone Pine sits in Owens Valley, offering quick access to alpine forests, desert wilderness, and the Great Basin Desert—all in one place.

To the west, you’ll see the granite Sierra Nevada mountains, and on the east side, you’ll find the state’s biggest silver mining area at Cerro Gordo.

Location connects to deep history

The Alabama Hills were named in 1863 by gold miners who supported the South during the Civil War, in honor of the Confederate warship CSS Alabama.

Just 15 miles north near Independence, Union supporters named their mining claims after the USS Kearsarge (the ship that sank the CSS Alabama) in 1864.

This naming rivalry still shows up on maps today.

Famous naturalist John Muir was there

The 1872 earthquake was felt as far as Sacramento, San Diego, and Nevada, 200 miles away in Yosemite Valley, even John Muir felt it.

As the ground shook, he reportedly ran outside yelling, ‘A noble earthquake!’ and spent all night looking at fresh rockfalls by moonlight.

While most feared the quake, John Muir saw it as a thrilling glimpse of nature’s power, he was after all America’s most famous conservationist.

Four separate burial grounds

Pioneer Cemetery on Inyo Street holds Lone Pine’s founders, Mr. Charles Begole.

Just north of town, Earthquake Cemetery honors victims of the 1872 disaster. There’s also a hidden cemetery on Narrow Gauge Road south of the ‘big turn.’

The fourth one, Mt. Whitney Cemetery, sits across from the earthquake memorial and still accepts new burials from local residents today.

A single tree that’s long gone

In the 1860s, the town supplied miners, ranchers, and farmers.

Named after a single tall pine tree that stood in the 1800s, it was also used by early travelers as a landmark in Owens Valley.

Though the original tree is long gone, its name remains.

Today, it serves as your gateway to the Eastern Sierra, welcoming visitors headed to Mount Whitney and the surrounding mountains.

One old wall survived it all

Behind La Florista flower shop stands The Old Adobe Wall, the only surviving structure from pre-earthquake Lone Pine.

It withstood the 1872 quake when most buildings were reduced to rubble. Only 20 of the town’s 80 original buildings survived the violent shaking.

Stone arch frames the highest peak

Mobius Arch offers a stunning frame for Mount Whitney. The arch is 17 feet wide, 6.5 feet tall, and sits at 4,624 feet elevation.

Accessible via a 0.6-mile loop trail off Movie Road, most hikers complete it in about 13 minutes. Since 2011, they’ve added markers and improved the trail.

Diaz Lake was formed by the 1872 earthquake

The earthquake created a basin that filled with spring water. Before that, the Diaz family, who arrived from Chile in the 1860s, ran a cattle ranch on the land.

Diaz Lake spans 86 acres and is a popular fishing spot, stocked regularly by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with bluegill, bass, and brown trout.

Find 200 camping spots around Diaz Lake, along with picnic areas.

Mountains that are still growing today

The Lone Pine Fault is one of many active faults in the Eastern Sierra. Scientists believe large earthquakes like the 1872 event occur in this region every 3,000-4,000 years.

The Sierra Nevada mountains continue to grow, driven by the same forces that caused the 1872 earthquake, creating a dramatic drop from the peaks to Owens Valley.

Over 800 movies used these rocky hills

The Alabama Hills have been a popular movie location since 1920, when The Roundup, a silent film, documented the large boulders as a backdrop.

Drive down Movie Road to see locations where John Wayne filmed 12 movies. Many TV westerns, like Rawhide and The Lone Ranger, were also shot here.

The film museum is right downtown

The Museum of Western Film History at 701 South Main Street opened in 2006.

Inside, you’ll find props, costumes, vehicles, and set pieces, including items used by stars like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Roy Rogers.

In October, during Columbus Day weekend, the town hosts the Lone Pine Film Festival, featuring movie screenings, celebrity guests, and tours of filming locations.

Visiting Lone Pine in 2025

Address: Lone Pine, CA 93545, USA (at the intersection of Highways 395 and 136)

Drive south on Highway 395, then turn onto Highway 136. The Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center is 1.5 miles down.

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