Vulture Mine – History, Fact, and Fiction
The Vulture Mine, near Wickenburg, Arizona could be the central character in a dime novel. Its myths, legends, and facts have and continue to stir the imagination. Stories of ghosts, men, and animals lost in the "Glory Hole", Indian attacks, bullion robberies, gold fortunes, lost veins, and personalities as grand and sweeping as the desert winds are part of Arizona history Continue Reading
Featured Mining Town: Austin, Nevada
Austin was the location of central Nevada's first big mining boom. In what was previously unexplored territory, the rich silver mines of Austin attracted thousands of miners and prospectors, many of whom went on to prospect beyond Austin, staking tens of thousands of claims, opening hundreds of new districts, and settling dozens of new camps. Continue Reading
Featured Mining Town: Aspen, Colorado
Aspen, Colorado is now known as a premier resort town. However, Aspen started out as a silver mining city, and rose to be the largest silver producer in the world by the early 1890s. Continue Reading
The Top Ten Historic Mining Towns You Should Visit Today
The various gold and silver rushes in the West were the primary factor in the initial settlement of the western states. Thousands of mining camps were formed but most only lasted a few months or a few years before the residents packed up and moved on to the next rush or a more prosperous town Continue Reading
Featured Mining Town: Salida, Colorado
Salida was less of a mining camp, and more of a supply point for the agricultural and mining operations in Chaffee County. A railroad roundhouse was built to service the trains, and a 65 foot turntable was added and later replaced by an 80 food turntable. This became the largest railroad repair facility between Denver and Salt Lake City, employing hundreds of men. Continue Reading
Western Museum Of Mining and Industry
Western Museum of Mining and Industry (WMMI) is an organization that works to preserve the mining history of the western United States. The 27 acre facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado contains over 5,000 mining-related artifacts. The photos in this post represent just a small part of the numerous fascinating exhibits at this incredible facility. Pictured Continue Reading
Dogs of the Mining West
Most dogs on the western frontier were considered working dogs, but as the photos in this collection demonstrate, they were also reliable and cherished companions to miners and prospectors. Continue Reading
Featured Mining Town: Randsburg, California
Gold was discovered at Randsburg, California in 1895 when the nation was in the midst of a depression. The desert prospectors that converged on Randsburg comprised what was known as a "poor man's camp". Some of them had to abandon their claims out of hunger while others ground the gold out of their ore by hand to come up with the $1.60 fee to file their claim. Continue Reading
Featured Mining Town: Virginia City, Montana
Virginia City, Montana is one of the West's richest and most notorious historic gold camps. In the five years after the first gold discovery an estimated $30-$40 million in gold was recovered here. Also abundant were the murders by road agents, with around 100 travelers killed between 1863 and 1864. Continue Reading
Featured Mining Town: Victor, Colorado
Victor, Colorado was known as the Cripple Creek district's "City of Mines". One third of all the gold mined in the district came from the mines at Victor. Continue Reading
