Copper and Community: Life at Kennecott
During the 1990s, three separate reunions were held at the Kennicott Glacier Lodge that brought together the school-age children and adult laborers that lived at Kennecott during the 1920s and 1930s. The interviews that were conducted at these events provide a rare and fascinating look into life at one of the West’s most remote mining camps. Continue Reading
Encampment Wyoming Photos
Encampment, Wyoming was the economic center of the Encampment copper district in southern Wyoming. The town was founded in 1897 and had its best days between 1902 and 1907 when the population topped 3,000. This members-only photo collection contains over 20 images from Encampment’s mining days. Continue Reading
Within a few years of the 1890 gold discovery at Cripple Creek, the area had transformed into one of the world’s fastest growing gold districts. Thieves, bandits and buncos were attracted to the towns of new district by the hundreds, and Cripple Creek became known for its lawlessness. Continue Reading
Goldfield, Nevada: The Arthur Allen Albums
Photographer Arthur Allen captured many important scenes from Goldfield, Nevada’s peak years – from the budding camp that was just a collection of tents in the fall of 1903, to the thriving community that was described as “The World’s Greatest Gold Camp”, and was Nevada’s largest city by the middle of the decade. “Goldfield, Nevada: The Arthur Allen Albums” presents over 100 photos of the city, the mines, and cultural events that occurred during Goldfield’s boom years. Continue Reading
Photos from the Thunder Mountain Gold Rush in Idaho
The rush to Thunder Mountain in early 1902 was one of the most significant events in Idaho mining history, and one of the West’s most harrowing survival stories. A site visitor donated an album of photos from the area during the height of the excitement here around 1902. The photos have been restored and are presented here for supporting members. Continue Reading
Arequa Gulch: A Long Gone Town in Colorado
Long ago, before the mine and before the bridge, Arequa was one of 25 towns once located in the Cripple Creek District. Arequa was not only the oldest community in the area, but also played an essential part in the formation of the district and the gold boom of 1891. Continue Reading
Barry, Colorado: An Early Town in the Cripple Creek District
Following the discovery of gold in the Cripple Creek district, many mining communities were formed in the early 1890s. The town of Barry was one of the first, but it was soon swallowed up by its expanding neighbor. Continue Reading
In the 1890s, Leadville, Colorado was experiencing an economic depression. To boost the local economy, and the mood of the citizenry, in 1895 a plan was conceived to have a winter carnival, with the main attraction being a grand palace constructed almost entirely of ice. Continue Reading
Cache Creek, Colorado – An Early Placer Mining Camp
Cache Creek was an important early placer mining camp in Colorado’s Arkansas Valley. Horace Tabor lived here before later becoming one of Colorado’s richest mining tycoons at nearby Leadville. Continue Reading
An Ode to Elkton, Colorado
Author Jan MacKell Collins describes her fondness for the mining town of Elkton, Colorado. “Being there somehow made me feel at home, and I slowly but surely fell in love with that old ghost town.” Continue Reading
