{"id":8686,"date":"2018-11-23T08:15:09","date_gmt":"2018-11-23T16:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernjeeper.com\/?p=8686"},"modified":"2018-11-23T08:04:47","modified_gmt":"2018-11-23T16:04:47","slug":"modernjeeping-into-americas-mining-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernjeeper.com\/modernjeeping-into-americas-mining-history\/","title":{"rendered":"ModernJeeping into America’s Mining History"},"content":{"rendered":"

ROADS, TRAILS, CABINS, MINES AND ADVENTURE AWAIT YOUR JEEP<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mining in America is best known for the California Gold Rush (1848-1855) where the \u201cForty-Niners\u201d as they became to be known left roads and trails in search of gold for ModernJeepers to follow today. Some say overlanding even started then, with Conestoga wagons, covered wagons and emigrants pulling oxen wagons.<\/p>\n

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Covered wagon of the pioneer days<\/p><\/div>\n

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There were many other \u201cgold rushes\u201d like the Nome and Klondike Gold Rush of Alaska (1899-1909), the Black Hills Gold Rush, South Dakota (1874-1878) and others that left trails, roads, mining cabins and camps for us to explore today.\u00a0 Land use organizations today still fight to keep these old historic routes open for us.\u00a0 Enjoying them should be on your bucket list.<\/p>\n

Minerals besides gold that were heavily mined included (but not limited to) Bauxite, Borax, Copper, Coal, Silver, Iron, Molybdenum, Phosphate, Zinc and in Moab, UT particularly, Uranium. One Death Valley story tells of a forty-niner era miner who found a form of borax lying on the ground.\u00a0 He sold the claim on which he was barely surviving for what now would be a millionaire’s fortune.\u00a0 Oh, the stories, trails and roads these mines left behind.<\/p>\n

As with most all historical structures, buildings decay and mines fill in with erosion. It doesn\u2019t take long for old mining camps to disappear from official maps available to the public. If you get the chance to go exploring for historic mining camps, you should do it now.<\/p>\n

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Mines might be labeled on a good topo map<\/p><\/div>\n

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Some tips to help you find old mines and cabins:<\/strong>
\n1. Ask the locals where you want to explore in coffee shops and \u201chang out\u201d establishments. Treasures have been found based on napkin maps made in a bar.
\n2. Use your browser and satellite imagery to look for old buildings and mines. Use several key words in your searches such as historic, mines, cabins, lost mines, ghost towns, etc.
\n3. Go to the library in your interest area and poke around in the journals and historic references. Be sure to ask the librarian for hints on where to look. Journals of old miners are a treasure!
\n4. Ask at the RV Parks, Chamber of Commerce or Tourism office where cool old buildings and mines might still be standing.<\/p>\n

Enjoy this collection of historic mining camps, buildings, cabins and more\u2026<\/p>\n

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Cabin at Belfort, CA, from the 1880 mining boom.<\/p>\n

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Gold flakes and pickers gold in pan.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Gold nugget found near source of mine<\/p><\/div>\n

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Mining debris is a treasure to find and figure out<\/p><\/div>\n

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Remains of a stamp and mill operation<\/p><\/div>\n

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Never enter buildings if uncertain as to safety<\/p><\/div>\n

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Some mining cabins might still have inhabitants…use caution<\/p><\/div>\n

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Local hang outs are a good place to do research<\/p><\/div>\n

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Marshall Gold Discovery State Park, Coloma, CA, 5-Stamp Mill<\/p><\/div>\n

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Marshall Gold Discovery State Park, Coloma, CA, Ore Cart<\/p><\/div>\n

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Water canons ravaged hillsides and gullies in short order<\/p><\/div>\n

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It’s easy to admire the craftsmanship of hand tools<\/p><\/div>\n

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Mining arastra that relied on horses or mules to grind ore<\/p><\/div>\n

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Use caution around mine shafts and be safe<\/p><\/div>\n

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Yes, we want some!<\/p><\/div>\n

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“Cousin Jack,” a three sided structures built into the sidehill to house miners in the old days.<\/p><\/div>\n

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1880’s store 10,000 feet up the mountainside<\/p><\/div>\n

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Champion Mill, CO,\u00a0 boiler set in bricks at about 11,000 elevation<\/p><\/div>\n

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Champion Mill, several stories tall, with “arrested decay” going on with some structural support help.<\/p><\/div>\n

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See history while it still stands<\/p><\/div>\n

When you get the chance, get out the maps, grab a buddy, and go find some mining history.\u00a0 It’s an adventure you won’t forget!<\/p>\n

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