You don't stumble onto Liberty by accident. That's rather the point. Liberty Films was an independent motion picture production company founded in California by Frank Capra and Samuel J. Briskin in April 1945.
San Joaquin County holds 4 documented ghost towns, including Carnegie, Elliott, San Joaquin City — Liberty keeps them company on the map.
The story of Liberty
California wrote the book on ghost towns, from Gold Rush tent cities to Owens Valley farm towns the aqueduct dried up.
Liberty Films was an independent motion picture production company founded in California by Frank Capra and Samuel J. Briskin in April 1945. It produced only two films, the Christmas classic It's a Wonderful Life (1946), originally released by RKO Radio Pictures, and the film version of the hit play State of the Union (1948), originally released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Liberty Films' logo was the Liberty Bell ringing loudly.
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of Liberty is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.
Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.
Getting there
Here's the honest truth: access to Liberty is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.
Good to know
Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.
Survey Map
Approximate position — verify access locally before visiting
Liberty FAQs
01Where is Liberty located?
02What county is Liberty in?
03What is the history of Liberty?
04What remains at Liberty today?
05Can you visit Liberty?
Sources: account based on Wikipedia (“Liberty Films”), CC BY-SA.
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