Mining Towns, the Eiffel Church, and a Goat Farm

Santa Rosalia


Although the outskirts of town have a grim industrial look, Santa Rosalia is a pleasant small city once dominated by Compagnie du Boleo, a French mining company.

Former Headquarters of Compagnie du Boleo. All of the wood was imported from France because the peninsula lacks building timber.
Church designed by Gustav Eiffel, Santa Rosalia.

Lacking wood to build their church, the Compagnie du Boleo bought a metal church designed by Gustav Eiffel out from under some South Africans who wanted it because of the problems where termites reign supreme.

Interior of Metal Church. Bet it gets hot!

El Triunfo de la Santa Cruz

View of Town and Smelter Chimneys (“New & Improved” on right).

In the 1750s gold and silver mines were established at El Triunfo. By the 19th Century they had figured out that the fumes from the smelting operation that were killing off people, so a truly massive chimney (at the time, one of the tallest in North America) was created to try to keep them from settling on the town. By midcentury, operations had ceased and many of the bricks were carted off to La Paz for construction there.

Goat Ranching up in the Hills


If there’s not gold or silver or water enough for crops, there’s always goats.

The owner has 40 lactating goats she milks in 1 1/2 hours. We thought that was pretty impressive. Many of the other goats are free range and her husband will go out with his dog to gather them in. They simply follow like a pack.

The owner demonstrating cheese making, using cow milk rennet as a starter and milk and salt as the only other ingredients.
The owner also gave a tortilla making lesson.
We decided to relax in the shade instead!