The image above illustrates the incredible scale of the mining regions of the western United States. Yellow dots are gold mines, black dots are non-gold mines. Map icons show the distribution of historic mining towns. An interactive version of this map is available here.
Featured Mining Town: Treasure City, Nevada
Initially settled in 1868 near the summit of Treasure Hill, amid some of the districts richest mines, Treasure City was one of three primary settlements founded during the silver rush to Nevadas White Pine region. Many western mining camps were established in difficult locations, but Treasure City was among the few built atop a mountain, where winter conditions ranked among the harshest endured by any mining camp in the West. Continue Reading
Death Valley’s Lost Burro Mine
The Lost Burro Mine is located in Inyo County California, within the boundaries of Death Valley National Park. The mine was discovered in 1907 and was worked intermittently by several owners until the 1970s. Continue Reading
Featured Mining Town: Silver Plume, Colorado
Silver Plume, Colorado was founded in 1869 near the rich silver mines west of Georgetown. Today most of the town is part of the Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District. Continue Reading
Featured Mining Town: Hot Creek, Nevada
Little is known about the daily lives of mining camp residents in central Nevada during the 1860s, but valuable details survive in the diaries of Martha Gally, who moved to Hot Creek with her husband, Dr. Gally, and their two children in December 1866. Continue Reading
The Belcher Mine: 1870s Mining Methods of the Comstock Lode
Using the fascinating ca. 1876 illustration of the Belcher mine workings by T. L. Dawes, this article examines some of the mining methods employed in the mines of Nevada's Comstock Lode. Continue Reading
Historic Silver Ingots: 19th Century Treasures
The ingots produced by the mines of the West's great silver districts are some of the only remaining artifacts from from a bygone era of Western mining. As some of the few surviving artifacts from these camps, they are now prized by collectors. This article takes a look at silver ingots that have sold at auction over the last couple decades. Continue Reading
Featured Mining Town: Cortez, Nevada
Cortez, Nevada, was established in the 1860s following rich silver discoveries. Although it never achieved the status of a boomtown, the community endured far longer than many mining camps in the West. Continue Reading
Featured Mining Town: Silver City, Idaho
Silver City was at the center of one of the West's greatest silver discoveries. The ore deposits at Silver City were so rich that armed conflicts erupted over control of key mines. Continue Reading
Stagecoach Photos From Mining-Era Colorado
Stagecoach travel in Colorado was particularly daring, as the narrow roads were often cut into mountainsides, with high passes, hastily built bridges spanning deep ravines, and steep drop-offs only a few feet away. Continue Reading
Featured Mining Town: Elkhorn, Montana
Elkhorn, Montana, takes its name from the Elkhorn Mine, once one of the nation's richest and longest-operating silver mines. Today, the town is home to Montana's smallest state park, a one-acre site dedicated to preserving its only two remaining historic commercial buildings. Continue Reading
