Welcome to Western Mining History

Mining in the Black Hills

"Mining in the Black Hills" provides an overview of the geography and history of mining and mining communities in the Black Hills. Included are historic and modern maps of the mining towns and districts of this famous mining region.  Continue Reading

Featured Mining Town: Berlin, Nevada

Featured Mining Town: Berlin, Nevada

During its heyday, Berlin and its Union suburbs supported 200-250 people including miners, woodcutters, charcoal makers, a doctor and nurse, a forest ranger and a prostitute.   Continue Reading

Contemporary U.S. Specimen Gold

Most known gold localities are no longer actively producing on a large scale or are actively mined as open pits, and the prospect of a nice nugget or matrix specimen is low. That is not to say that good size and quality nuggets are not being found, and good matrix specimens are still uncovered in old mines, now worked in the hopes of finding "pocket gold" specimens.   Continue Reading

Featured Mining Town: Lead, South Dakota

Featured Mining Town: Lead, South Dakota

Lead, South Dakota is the location of the Homestake - the nation's greatest gold mine. This mine operated for 125 years and produced over 40 million ounces of gold. As the mine grew, so did Lead, becoming one of the West's most important mining cities.  Continue Reading

Featured Mining Town: Central City, South Dakota

Featured Mining Town: Central City, South Dakota

Central, City South Dakota was one of the Black Hills earliest, and most important mining settlements. In 1877, a conflict between the neighboring Aurora and Keets mines resulted in the death of one of the mine owners, and later the same year a strike at the Keets required intervention by Sheriff Seth Bullock and federal troops.  Continue Reading

The Young America Mine and the Deidesheimer Gold Heist

The Young America mine was one located in one of California's most scenic locations. It was partly owned by famed mining engineer Philip Deidesheimer. In a twist "Phillip Deidesheimer" was caught stealing a large quantity of gold from the mine. This article exposes the scandal that the mine owners attempted to make quietly go away.  Continue Reading

Deadwood: The Ultimate Photo Collection

The Black Hills Gold Rush was one of the most significant historical events in the western United States. This collection of over 50 images captures the early history of this famous gold region.  Continue Reading

Best Historical Photos: Colorized Mining Scenes

This collection contains some of the best colorized photos of historic western mining scenes. Included are mines, miners, historic mining towns, and related scenes.  Continue Reading

Cripple Creek “The World’s Greatest Gold Camp”

"So thickly were the hillsides and gulches studded with homes, than one can easily say that the Cripple Creek district is one great city, covering thirty-six square miles." Cripple Creek - "The World's Greatest Gold Camp" uses selected text from a 1903 special edition of the Cripple Creek Times, and over 50 images from various sources to illustrate the importance and magnitude of Cripple Creek during the district's peak years.   Continue Reading

Featured Mining Town: Butte, Montana

Featured Mining Town: Butte, Montana

Butte, Montana started as a gold camp, but by the mid-1870s the settlement had experienced an exodus of miners as the easily-mined gold ran out. By the 1880s silver had revived the camp, and shortly after copper became king here-making Butte the most important mining center in the world over the next few decades.  Continue Reading