Legends of The Old West (Gold / Silver Mining, Cowboys, Indians & More)

Welcome to the Precious Metals Bug Forums

Welcome to the PMBug forums - a watering hole for folks interested in gold, silver, precious metals, sound money, investing, market and economic news, central bank monetary policies, politics and more.

Why not register an account and join the discussions? When you register an account and log in, you may enjoy additional benefits including no Google ads, market data/charts, access to trade/barter with the community and much more. Registering an account is free - you have nothing to lose!

The Crooked Lawyer Who Stole A Town’s Gold​

Jul 26, 2025
In this video, we dive deep into the fascinating and turbulent story of Gilt Edge, Montana—a forgotten mining town nestled in the Judith Mountains. Just a stone’s throw from the historic towns of Maiden and Zortman, Gilt Edge had all the makings of a classic boomtown: gold discoveries, mining innovations, shady characters, and eventual decline.
It all started in 1883 when a prospector named Limrock struck gold and named the site “Gilt Edge.” But early mining efforts failed—until 1892, when a revolutionary cyanide leaching process turned worthless rock into rich gold ore, launching one of the first cyanide mills in the United States.
What followed was a wild ride: enter “Honest Bob” Ammon, a crooked New York lawyer turned mine manager who pulled off a gold heist and vanished. Despite setbacks, Gilt Edge flourished under new management and became a vibrant town complete with saloons, stores, and even a visit from Calamity Jane herself.
The town thrived until 1912, briefly revived in the 1980s, and now stands as a ghost town where you can still spot remnants of its colorful past.
Thank you for watching!

5:24

- Zortman Video: • You Will NEVER Guess Which Outlaw Came To ...
- Maiden Video: • Why Did Investors Give Up and Leave PILES ...
 

The Lost Doctor Thorne Mine: The True Origins of the Lost Dutchman Legend? Museum Cut​

Jul 30, 2025
(In this Shorten Museum Cut) Could the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine actually be rooted in the tale of the lost Doctor Thorne mine? Join Clay Worst as he uncovers the fascinating story of Doctor Thorne, who was rewarded with a hidden gold mine deep in the Superstition Mountains by the Apaches as a token of gratitude. Allowed to take as much gold as he could carry, Thorne spent the rest of his life and fortune desperately trying to rediscover this elusive treasure. Is this the true origin of the Lost Dutchman legend?

7:01
 

This 1940s Mining Camp Was Left to Die in the Nevada Desert​

Aug 2, 2025 #NevadaHistory #AbandonedMines #LuckyTigerMine
The Rise and Fall of the Lucky Tiger Mine | Nevada’s Forgotten Mid-Century Gold Camp
Tucked into the remote Buckskin Mountains of Humboldt County, Nevada, the Lucky Tiger Mine is a rare example of a "modern" mining operation that rose and fell in the heart of the American West. While most ghost mines date back to the 1800s, the Lucky Tiger didn’t hit its stride until the late 1930s—yet its story is every bit as fascinating.
Originally discovered in 1906, it wasn’t until the Nevada Lucky Tiger Company took over in the 1930s that serious development began. Backed by industrial giant ASARCO, the site soon became a full-fledged mining camp with a working mill, bunkhouses, cookhouse, assay office, and family homes—housing up to 150 people at its peak.
This video explores the heyday of the Lucky Tiger, the people who lived and worked there, and the complex ores that made this mine both promising and technically challenging. We follow the mine’s final years into the 1950s and its eventual shutdown, before being documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in the 1960s.

4:25
 

Silver, Explosions, and Smugglers: The Untold Story of Neihart, Montana​

Aug 9, 2025
Discover the Rise and Resilience of Neihart, Montana
Join us as we explore the fascinating story of Neihart—one of Montana’s highest and most enduring mining towns. From its silver strike in 1881 to devastating disasters and roaring booms, Neihart's history is as rugged as the Little Belt Mountains it calls home. Learn about the mines, the people, and the town that refused to fade away.
Explosions, whiskey smuggling, railroads, and rich silver veins—this is frontier history at its finest.
Just an hour south of Great Falls, Neihart still stands today.

5:12
 

Death, Gold, and Madness: Clay Worst on the 1960s Feud over Gold (Museum Cut)​

Aug 12, 2025
In this Shorten Version) Step back into the wild 1960s with Clay Worst as he unveils the dramatic and deadly feud over Weavers Needle in the Superstition Mountains. Discover the intense rivalry between Ed Piper and Jones, fueled by the hunt for Jesuit Gold and the elusive Lost Dutchman Mine. What began as a treasure hunt spiraled into a tale of greed, obsession, and ultimately murder. This is one story you won’t want to miss—where legends collide and the pursuit of gold turns deadly.

6:36

- Watch the long version at • Death on the Mountain: Unraveling the Myst...
 

Skagway Alaska: The Wild Gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush (1897–1900)​

Step back in time to the wild days of the Klondike Gold Rush and discover the fascinating history of Skagway, Alaska. In this video, we explore how this small port town became the most important gateway to the Yukon during one of the greatest gold rushes in history.
Packed with rare historical photographs of Skagway from the late 1890s, early 1900s, and even the 1960s, this story brings to life the bustling streets, steamship docks, and rough-and-tumble characters who shaped the town. You’ll meet notorious outlaw Jefferson "Soapy" Smith, learn about the brutal Chilkoot and White Pass trails, and see how steamships from Seattle, San Francisco, and Vancouver poured tens of thousands of hopeful stampeders into this once-quiet stretch of Alaskan wilderness.
We’ll also uncover how Captain William Moore’s vision set the stage for Skagway’s boom, why the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad became a game-changer, and how businesses thrived by outfitting miners instead of digging for gold.
From lawless saloons and makeshift tent cities to the eventual decline after 1900, Skagway’s history is a mix of ambition, chaos, and survival. Today, the town stands as one of the best-preserved gold rush towns in North America, attracting visitors from around the world who want to walk its wooden boardwalks, ride the famous railroad, and relive the golden age of the Yukon Gold Rush.
If you love Alaskan history, Klondike Gold Rush stories, old photographs, and tales of boomtowns, this video is for you.

10:14
 

The Montana Town That Had TWO Railroads… and LOST It All​

Aug 23, 2025 #montana #montanaghosttowns #montanahistory
Step back in time to the forgotten mining town of Wickes, Montana, once a booming smelter hub tucked away in the gulches of Jefferson County. Just 20 miles southwest of Helena, Wickes rose from a silver camp in the 1860s to a bustling community of more than 1,500 people by the 1880s. With saloons, dance halls, railroads, and the famous Alta Mine and smelter, the town thrived during Montana’s silver boom.
But like so many Western mining towns, Wickes fell as quickly as it rose. Fires, mine closures, and the Panic of 1893 spelled its decline, leaving behind only ruins and memories. Today, Wickes stands as a ghost town, where crumbling stone walls and silent smelter stacks whisper the stories of its past.
Join us as we explore the rise and fall of Wickes, uncovering its mining history, the people who built it, and the disasters that brought it down.

5:45
 

Crazy Jake Exposed! Clay Worst Reveals the Truth Behind the Salazar Survey & Lost Mines​

Aug 23, 2025
(In this shorten Museum Cut) Step deep into the legends of the Superstition Mountains as Clay Worst recounts his unforgettable encounters with the infamous Crazy Jake. Using Clay’s own surveying research on the Salazar Survey, Crazy Jake spun wild tales of lost Mexican family mines between the Salt River and Weaver’s Needle—tricking investors and anyone who crossed his path. But in the end, Clay Worst had the last word.
Did Crazy Jake really discover lost mines—or just weave stories to defraud investors?
How did his schemes shape the legends surrounding the Lost Dutchman Mine?
What secrets still hide in the rugged canyons of Arizona’s Superstitions?
Join us for a powerful story of deception, history, and the untamed Wild West. If you love the Lost Dutchman Mine, Arizona history, or the legends of the Superstition Mountains, this tale is one you won’t want to miss.

6:41

- Watch the Full length Video: • Crazy Jake Revealed: Clay Worst's Wildest ...
 

Ted DeGrazia's Millions in Hidden (Art Museum Cut)​

Premiered 7 hours ago SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN - LOST DUTCHMAN MUSEUM
Explore the captivating narrative of the concealed artistic journey of Ted DeGrazia as recounted by Larry Hedrick. Delve into the updated account, featuring fresh insights and revelations about the hidden artistry of this remarkable individual. Join us on a journey through DeGrazia's artistic legacy, unveiling new perspectives and stories that add depth to his creative connection and love for the Superstition Mountains.

4:22
 

BOOMTOWN -100,000 Stampeders - Klondike GOLD Rush - RARE Photos You've NEVER Seen Before!​

Step back in time to Dawson City, Yukon—the legendary heart of the Klondike Gold Rush. In 1896, a single gold discovery on Bonanza Creek sparked one of the greatest stampedes in history, drawing over 100,000 hopeful prospectors north in search of fortune.
From the dangerous Chilkoot Pass to the booming streets of Dawson City, this video tells the incredible story of the gold rush that transformed Canada’s North. Meet the prospectors who struck it rich, the merchants and gamblers who cashed in, and the thousands who risked everything but never found gold.
Today, Dawson City stands as a living museum where history still echoes in its boardwalks, saloons, and goldfields. Whether you’re a history lover, adventurer, or dreamer, this story of grit, gold, and survival will transport you back to the last great gold rush.

11:51

Skagway Video: • This TOWN Was The Gateway To The GOLD Rush
 

Unraveling the Mystery of Adolph Ruth's Gruesome Fate with Hank Sheffer (Museum Cut)​

Join us on an intriguing journey through time as we delve into one of the most chilling and perplexing mysteries that has shrouded the Superstition Mountain since the 1930s. In this captivating episode, noted author Hank Sheffer brings to light the spine-tingling tale of Adolph Ruth's fateful expedition. A gripping narrative entwined with maps, treasure, and murder.
Adolph Ruth, Armed with maps and fueled by an insatiable desire for discovery, Ruth embarked on a perilous journey that would ultimately lead to his shocking demise. What secrets did the mountain guard so fiercely? What did Ruth hope to uncover? The answers lie buried within the heart of this captivating mystery.
Hank Sheffer, a seasoned storyteller and expert in the lore of the Superstition Mountain, takes us through a vivid recounting of events that unfolded during Ruth's ill-fated expedition. Drawing from historical records, first-hand accounts, and his extensive research, Sheffer paints a vivid picture of the enigmatic circumstances surrounding Ruth's last days.
If you're as fascinated by unsolved mysteries, thrilling narratives, and tales of exploration as we are, give this video a thumbs up and share it with your fellow adventurers. Let's embark on this spine-chilling journey together!

5:28
 

Colorado’s Forgotten Railroad of Gold​

Unlike most of my stories about old mines and ghost towns, this one is a little different. While digging into the history of Colorado’s mining camps, I kept finding the same name over and over again: the Gilpin Tramway.
Built in 1886 by a group of determined mining men, this narrow-gauge railroad wound its way through Black Hawk, Central City, Nevadaville, Quartz Hill, and Russell Gulch. At its peak, the Gilpin Tram connected nearly 280 mines and mills, using more switchbacks than any other railroad in the United States.
For thirty years, it hauled countless tons of ore down to Black Hawk’s stamp mills and smelters—keeping the district alive and earning the town its nickname, the City of Mills. From its fiery “warming house” that kept ore thawed in the winter, to the day its last train ran in January of 1917, the story of the Gilpin Tramway is one of grit, ingenuity, and mountain railroading at its finest.

6:24

Link to Central City: • THIS Was The Place - Even The PRESIDENT Ca...
 

50-Year Quest for the Lost Dutchman: Walter Gassler’s Hunt for Gold with Larry Hedrick​

Sep 9, 2025
Join Larry Hedrick as he reveals the captivating 50-year saga of Walter Gassler's relentless pursuit of the legendary Lost Dutchman gold mine. This thrilling journey takes unexpected twists as Gassler's quest pulls in former Arizona Attorney General Bob Corbin and adventurer Tom Kollerborn. Together, they navigate a web of intrigue, uncovering secrets, and chasing clues in their search for Gassler's camp and the elusive treasure. Will they finally uncover the fabled Lost Dutchman gold mine? Dive into this gripping narrative to find out!

6:15
 

Nome Gold Rush 1899 – Fortune & Chaos in Alaska. + Bonus, RARE PHOTOS​

Sep 13, 2025 #NomeGoldRush #AlaskaHistory #GoldRush
Step back in time to the legendary Nome Gold Rush of 1899, one of the wildest and most dramatic chapters in Alaska’s history. Following the discovery of gold on Anvil Creek and the shocking revelation that fine gold lay in the beach sands of Nome, tens of thousands of fortune seekers rushed north—leaving Dawson City and the Klondike behind in search of new riches.
In this video, you’ll see rare historical photos that bring Nome’s boomtown days to life, along with a slideshow of extra images at the end. From the chaotic arrival of steamships off Nome’s icy coast, to the bustling Front Street saloons, canvas tent cities, and even the infamous Dexter Saloon owned by Wyatt Earp, this story is packed with adventure.
Read more below the vid on youtube.

13:06

Dawson City Gold Rush video here: • THIS Is What The 1898 Yukon Gold Rush Was ...
 

Western Mining History

Western Mining History. 96,405 likes · 10,039 talking about this. Reliving the amazing mining history of the western United States
www.facebook.com
 

Britannia Mine’s Dark History: Tragedy, Treasure, and Survival​

Sep 20, 2025 #britanniamine #britishcolumbiahistory #squamish
The Britannia Mine on Howe Sound was once one of the biggest copper producers in the British Empire. From its discovery in 1898 to its closure in 1974, Britannia carved out 210 km of tunnels and produced massive amounts of copper, zinc, silver, and gold.
Life here was tough—families faced landslides, fires, floods, and disease in this isolated company town. Yet Britannia thrived for nearly 70 years, its iconic Mill No. 3 still towering over the shoreline today.
Now preserved as the Britannia Mine Museum, it remains a powerful reminder of boom, hardship, and resilience.

5:48

Anyox Video Link: • Built by Copper, DESTROYED by Fire: The Gh...
 

The Legend of Lydian Perrine: Uncovering the "Cave of Gold Bars" in the Superstition Mountains​

Premiered Feb 26, 2021
Unlock the Mysteries of the Superstition Mountains! Dive into the legendary tale of Lydian Perrine and the elusive "Cave of Gold Bars" hidden deep within the Superstition Mountains. Discover the thrilling stories of lost treasures, secret caches, and daring hunts for gold that have captivated explorers for generations.
Could the fabled gold bars still be waiting to be found? Join us as we unravel the mysteries, share incredible legends, and take you on a journey into one of the most intriguing treasure hunts in history!

20:52
 

Climbing the Golden Stairs: The Harsh Journey of the Klondike Gold Rush​

Sep 27, 2025 #klondikegoldrush #chilkoot #yukonterritory
In 1897, the Klondike Gold Rush set the world on fire. Thousands of stampeders poured into Alaska, chasing dreams of fortune hidden deep in the Yukon. Their journey led them through Skagway and Dyea—two boomtowns that became the gateways to the legendary Chilkoot Trail.
From Dyea, fortune seekers battled through muddy camps, raging rivers, and the notorious Sheep Camp before facing the ultimate challenge: the “Golden Stairs.” This mile-long climb carved into snow and ice tested every ounce of strength as stampeders hauled a government-mandated one ton of supplies, trip after grueling trip.
At the summit, they crossed into Canada and pressed on to Lake Bennett, where frozen camps turned into bustling tent cities filled with saloons, blacksmiths, and boat builders. Here, miners built rafts to navigate the Yukon River to Dawson City. Among the opportunists was Friedrich Trump, grandfather of future U.S. President Donald Trump, who ran a hotel and restaurant catering to weary gold seekers.
The Chilkoot was more than just a trail—it was a proving ground of grit, ambition, and endurance. While tramways, packers, and later the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad changed the journey, the Chilkoot remains one of the most legendary routes of the Gold Rush.
Today, hikers trace those same 33 miles, walking in the footsteps of stampeders who risked everything for a chance at gold.

8:55
 

King Woolsey Pioneer Hero or Heel with Larry Hedrick (Museum Cut)​

Discover the fascinating story of King Woolsey, a founding pioneer of Arizona and a legendary Indian fighter. Was he a hero who helped shape the state, or does his legacy carry a darker side through a modern lens? In this video, we explore Woolsey’s life, his impact on Arizona history, and the controversies surrounding him.

7:54
 

Virginia & Truckee Railroad Queen of the Short Lines in Nevada’s Wild West​

They called it the “Queen of the Short Lines.” The Virginia & Truckee Railroad carved through Nevada’s rugged mountains to carry the riches of the Comstock Lode. In this video, we’ll take a look at how this legendary short line came to life, from its beginnings in 1868 under William Sharon of the Bank of California, to its vital role linking Virginia City’s silver and gold mines with Carson City, Reno, and beyond.
At its peak, the V&T stretched about 60 miles, operated 22 locomotives and over 300 freight cars, and moved millions of tons of ore, lumber, livestock, and bullion. More than just a railroad, it became the steel backbone of Nevada’s mining boom—hauling treasure, fueling mills, and leaving behind stories of holdups, outlaws, and engineering triumphs.
In this short video, you’ll see rare historical photographs and hear the story of how the Virginia & Truckee turned ore into wealth and helped write the history of the Wild West.
If you missed my earlier video on the Gilpin Tramway, I’ve linked it below and at the end of this video—another fascinating story of how trains kept the mines alive.
Gilpin Tram Video: • Colorado’s Forgotten Railroad of Gold

5:23
 

Montana’s Silver Empire: The True Story of Elkhorn Ghost Town​


Oct 11, 2025
Step back in time to the rugged silver boom days of Elkhorn, Montana — one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the American West. In this video, we explore the Elkhorn Mine and the rise and fall of the Elkhorn mining town, a once-thriving community high in the Montana Rockies that produced millions in silver, gold, and lead during the late 1800s.
At nearly 6,400 feet above sea level, Elkhorn was founded after prospector Peter Wys discovered rich silver ore in 1875. From a single claim known as the A.M. Holter Lode, it grew into one of Montana’s most successful silver mines, producing over 8.9 million ounces of silver, 8,500 ounces of gold, and 4 million pounds of lead by 1900.
But Elkhorn was more than just a mining camp — it was a real town filled with families, saloons, schools, a church, and a fraternity hall that still stands today. At its peak, nearly 950 people called Elkhorn home. The arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1886 brought even more growth — until the silver crash of 1892 sent the town into decline.
Tragedy struck in the late 1880s when a diphtheria epidemic swept through, taking dozens of lives and leaving behind the haunting Elkhorn Cemetery, a somber reminder of the hardships faced by those early settlers.
By 1899, the once-prosperous Elkhorn Mine fell silent, though it reopened briefly in the early 1900s and mid-20th century. Today, Elkhorn State Park preserves what remains — including the historic Fraternity Hall and schoolhouse, both standing as testaments to a bygone era of silver, ambition, and resilience in the Montana mining frontier.
If you love ghost towns, old mines, and Montana history, this is one story you don’t want to miss.

4:48
 

From 1860s Discoveries to Modern Mega-Pit: An Arizona Copper Story​

Oct 18, 2025
Nestled about 150 miles northeast of Tucson near the New Mexico border, the Morenci copper mine has a dramatic story—of boom and bust, fires, outlaws, labor wars, and technological breakthroughs. In this video we explore every chapter of Morenci’s journey from the 1860s discovery era to its present role as North America’s top copper producer.
Read what you’ll see in this documentary below the vid on youtube.

6:53

Ajo Copper Mine Arizona: • This Small Arizona Town Has A Pit So BIG, ...
 

The Dead Horse Trail: How the White Pass Railroad Conquered the Klondike​

When the Klondike Gold Rush hit in 1897, tens of thousands of stampeders poured into Alaska, desperate to reach the Yukon’s golden promise. But the path ahead—through the treacherous Chilkoot Pass and the icy White Pass Trail—was brutal. From this chaos rose one of the greatest engineering feats of its time: the White Pass & Yukon Railroad.
In this video, we’ll journey back to the late 1890s to see how Sir Thomas Tancred, Michael Heney, and thousands of fearless workers carved a 110-mile narrow-gauge line through sheer granite cliffs and deadly ravines—from Skagway, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon. Built in just 26 months, this “railroad to the sky” became a lifeline for miners, carrying men, mules, and tons of ore through some of the harshest terrain on earth.
You’ll discover:
How 35,000 men battled avalanches and permafrost to build the line
The 2,500-pound dynamite blast that reshaped a mountainside
Why wood for bridges had to be shipped up from the “Lower 48”
The 3.9% grade that made the WP&YR an engineering marvel
How it served miners, settlers, and explorers for over a century

And yes—you can still ride this legendary narrow-gauge train today, from Skagway up to Carcross, Yukon, following the same breathtaking route once tread by fortune-seekers of the Gold Rush.

6:31

Gilpin Tramway Video • Colorado’s Forgotten Railroad of Gold
Virginia & Truckee Video • Virginia & Truckee Railroad Queen of the...
Chilkoot Trail • Climbing the Golden Stairs: The Harsh Jour...
Skagway Alaska • This TOWN Was The Gateway To The GOLD Rush

If you enjoy old railroad and mining history, don’t miss my other train stories:
[Gilpin Tramway]
[Virginia & Truckee Railroad]
 

The CURSE of Slumach’s Gold: The LOST Treasure of Pitt Lake​


Nov 1, 2025
Hidden deep in the wild mountains of British Columbia, near the remote shores of Pitt Lake, lies one of Canada’s greatest legends — the story of Slumach’s lost gold.
In 1890, Slumach, an elderly Katzie First Nations man, shot a fisherman named Louis Bee, fled into the mountains, and was later captured and hanged. Before his death, it’s said he discovered a secret gold-rich stream and hid his treasure somewhere near Pitt Lake.
Since then, countless men — from Volcanic Brown to George Blake and Adam Palmer — have risked their lives trying to find Slumach’s hidden gold mine, with many never returning. Was it a curse… or just the danger of the wild?
Join us as we explore the mystery, the history, and the enduring search for Slumach’s cursed gold — a story that still haunts the wilderness over 130 years later.

5:20
 

The Forgotten GOLD Town That Built the San Juans | Ghost Town History​

Nov 8, 2025

Gilpin Tramway Video: • AWSOME RARE OLD PHOTOS: Colorado’s For...
High in Colorado’s rugged San Juan Mountains sits the ghost town of Eureka, Colorado — a place where dreams of gold built a community nearly 10,000 feet above sea level. In this video, we uncover the full story of Eureka’s rise and fall, from Charles Baker’s 1860 gold discovery to the legendary Sunnyside Mine, one of Colorado’s most productive and innovative gold and silver operations.
Discover how Reuben McNutt built the first log cabin, how Otto Mears carved a toll road through the mountains, and how the Silverton Northern Railroad brought new life to this remote mining camp. We’ll explore the boom years of the 1920s and 1930s, the collapse during the Great Depression, and the final closure of the Sunnyside Mill in 1941.
Though little remains today but stone foundations and an old jail, Eureka’s ghost town ruins tell the story of Colorado’s mining heritage, resilience, and the fleeting fortunes that shaped the American West.

5:37
 

GHOST TOWN Gold: The Story Of A Town Built on Dreams and Deception​

Nov 15, 2025
Link To Greenwater Video: • Super RICH Ore Right On Surface --- So Wha...
This is the story of Bourne, Oregon — once called Cracker City, a booming mining town born on the banks of Cracker Creek where gold was discovered in 1888.
At its height, Bourne’s mines — the Eureka & Excelsior, North Pole, Golconda, and Columbia — produced nearly half a million ounces of gold, worth over a billion dollars today.
But as the mines slowed and fortunes faded, a man named F. Wallace White arrived with promises of wealth that turned out to be one of Oregon’s boldest mining frauds.
From his grand home overlooking town, he lured investors with stories of rich veins and endless gold. His company, the Sampson Mining Co., was nothing but smoke and mirrors.
When the dust settled, the swindler vanished, the mines went silent, and Bourne slipped into ghost town history — leaving behind only a few weathered cabins and the sound of Cracker Creek running through the pines.

4:55
 

The LOST Montana Silver Town of Smoke, Fire, and Fortune​

Nov 22, 2025 #HeclaMontana #GhostTowns #MontanaHistory
High in Montana’s Pioneer Mountains once stood Hecla, a booming silver mining town powered by roaring smelters and the great charcoal kilns of Glendale. From the early days of Trapper City to the rise of the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company, this forgotten corner of Montana’s mining history produced nearly a million ounces of silver before falling silent in 1900.
A brief revival came in 1913 when the Penobscot Mining Company reopened several mines and built a new 20-stamp mill at Lion City—but the mountain’s riches were nearly gone. Today, the stone furnaces and ghostly ruins still stand, silent reminders of a time when smoke and silver ruled the hills.

4:57

Link to Niehart Montana Video: • Silver, Explosions, and Smugglers: The Unt...
 

They Found $21,000 in STOLEN Gold in His Trunk — The Young America Mine Scandal​

Nov 29, 2025 #YoungAmericaMine #SierraCity #SierraCounty
Step back into the rugged boom-days of the northern Sierra Nevada as we explore the Young America Mine, one of Sierra County’s most powerful and dramatic gold producers. Perched high above the turquoise waters of Lower Sardine Lake—just a few miles north of Sierra City, California—this remote mine once echoed with the thunder of 40 roaring stamps, a sound locals claimed could be heard all the way down in town.
Read more below the vid on youtube.

5:10
Link to Kennet California: • From Mines to Murky Depths: The Lost Histo...
 

3 Forgotten Railroads of the Mojave & Nevada Mining Camps​

Dec 6, 2025
Links To Other Train Videos
- Gilpin Tramway: • AWSOME RARE OLD PHOTOS: Colorado’s For...
- Virginia & Truckee: • EXTREMELY RARE PHOTOS: Virginia & Trucke...
- White Pass Yukon: • RARE OLD TRAIN PHOTOS: The Impossible Ra...

Step into the wide-open desert of California and Nevada, where three forgotten railroads once opened the mining frontier and fueled some of the richest boomtowns in the American West. This short story explores the rise and fall of the Tonopah & Tidewater, Tonopah & Goldfield, and Bullfrog Goldfield railroads — lines that hauled borax, gold, silver, equipment, miners, gamblers, and dreamers across some of the harshest country in America.
From Borax Smith’s ambitious T&T climbing out of Ludlow… to the Tonopah & Goldfield moving millions in ore… to the Bullfrog Goldfield thundering toward Rhyolite during its brief but blazing glory — these railroads helped write the history of the Nevada desert.
Their rails are gone today, but their stories still echo across the sand and sagebrush. This 6-minute video brings those lost iron trails back to life.


6:17
 

Death Valley Mining: The Borax BOOM That Changed the American West​

Journey back into one of the harshest mining frontiers in the American West — Death Valley, home to the legendary borax mines that gave rise to the iconic 20 Mule Team Borax brand. This video tells the true story of the founders, miners, and desert camps that carved an industry out of blazing heat, rugged canyons, and endless salt flats.
We begin with Aaron Winters, the rancher who made the first major borax discovery in 1881. His find led to the creation of the Harmony Borax Works under financier William T. Coleman, where 35–40 men produced 3 tons of borax a day between 1883 and 1888. Surrounding Harmony were the Cottonball Claims, including the Grand View, Lizzie V, and Oakley — small valley-floor diggings where 30–50 men scraped borax by hand until Coleman’s collapse shut everything down.
Read more below the vid on youtube.

6:17
 
If you're into mining this was pretty interesting...

We Found REAL Gold Inside a 125-Year-Old Mine​

Join me as I spend 12 hours underground gold mining, like the miners did 100 years ago. Before I could even step into the mine, I had to become an official 'miner' in the eyes of the law, then I drilled, blasted, and mucked for a day, to see how much gold we could pull out!

I really enjoyed this experience because it allowed me to better understand the lives of the miners who built the town that I live in, Cerro Gordo.

If you'd rather not wait and buy a bag of ore directly from Jason, you can do that here: https://www.ebay.com/usr/mtbakerminingandmetals
 

The Borax Mine That Built Fortunes - and Left Ghosts Behind!!​

Dec 20, 2025 #SterlingBoraxMine #TickCanyon #CaliforniaMining
Step back into the dusty badlands of Southern California and uncover the forgotten story of the Sterling Borax Mine, once hidden deep in Tick Canyon near present-day Santa Clarita.
In the fall of 1907, prospectors searching for gold noticed strange white bands glinting in the canyon walls. What they had stumbled upon was rich colemanite, one of the most valuable borate ores of the early 20th century. Within months, the claims were secured by the Sterling Borax Company, founded by Stephen Mather and Thomas Thorkildsen—former Pacific Coast Borax insiders who dared to challenge the Borax King himself.
By 1908, the Sterling mine was producing 18,000 to 20,000 tons of borax a year, feeding America’s booming industries—from laundries and glassworks to enamel and metallurgy plants back east. A narrow-gauge “dinky” railroad, relocated from Calico, hauled white ore down Tick Canyon to the railhead at Lang, its whistle echoing off the canyon walls.
But life in this isolated mining camp was never easy. Accidents, tragedy, and rumor followed the mine. A fatal derailment on a dangerous curve claimed the life of a brakeman. Burglary scandals, deadly cave-ins, and whispered stories of the Ghost of Tick Canyon became part of daily life. Even after the mine closed in 1921, men swore the hills were never truly quiet again.
Today, only pale tailings and crumbling foundations remain—silent evidence of what was once the richest borax camp in the Santa Clarita hills.
If you enjoy forgotten mining camps, desert railroads, and the strange history of places long abandoned, give this video a thumbs up—and be sure to explore more stories from the mining West. Thanks for watching.

5:43
 

Cosmopolitan Tombstone: The Town You Didn't Know​


Dec 20, 2025
Rare photos, manuscripts, and data show that Tombstone Arizona was more than a gritty, roughneck mining town full of outlaw elements. Tombstone indeed was all of that but there was another side of Tombstone, the sophistication, urbanity and degree of culture that came to the town in the mid-1880s. Tombstone was actually a very wealthy town. Today I’m going to tell you about Cosmopolitan Tombstone Arizona, a remarkable contrast to what most of us have heard. Remember that Tombstone’s purpose and the reason men and women came there was to make money. And many in the city were wealthy, they wanted to enjoy the good things in life, and trouble such as crime and shootouts only tarnished the image that the inhabitants wanted to achieve. In its heyday, it was commonly believed that Tombstone could grow larger than San Francisco due to the rich minerals and silver being pulled from the ground.

20:06
 

Lost Railroads of the West. The Carson & Colorado Desert Line​


Dec 27, 2025 #CarsonAndColoradoRailroad #NarrowGaugeRailroad #RailroadHistory
The Carson & Colorado Railroad was one of the most remote and challenging railroads ever built in the American West. Laid across deserts, alkali flats, and flash-flood country, this narrow-gauge line was always fighting the land beneath its rails.
Built on a gamble that mining booms would follow, the Carson & Colorado instead faced light traffic, soft roadbeds, and unpredictable weather. Derailments were common—usually low-speed mishaps caused by shifting desert soil, washed-out track, or sharp curves. Crews often reraised cars with hand jacks and went on their way, treating derailments as just another day on the line.
This short video tells the story of those quiet desert derailments, the railroad men who dealt with them, and a line famously described as “300 miles too long, or 300 years too soon.” It’s a glimpse into daily life on one of the West’s most stubborn and least profitable railroads—where survival mattered more than speed or profit.
If you enjoy railroad history, lost railroads, narrow gauge trains, and Western mining stories, this is a railroad you won’t forget.

4:13
 

California’s “Poor Man’s” Gold Camp That Produced a MILLION Ounces​

Jan 3, 2026 #Randsburg #CaliforniaGoldRush #MojaveDesert
Step back into the desert boomtown of Randsburg, one of California’s last great gold rush camps. Located roughly 90 miles east of Bakersfield, Randsburg rose from desperation in the 1890s, when struggling prospectors poured into the Rand District searching for survival rather than sudden riches.
This video tells the full story of Randsburg’s origins—from the first gold discovery at Goler in 1893 to the 1895 strike on Rand Mountain that led to the legendary Yellow Aster Mine. Known as a true “poor man’s camp,” Randsburg was built by miners who crushed ore by hand, lived in canvas tents, and scraped together filing fees just to hold their claims during one of the worst economic depressions in American history.
You’ll learn how the town exploded from 13 buildings to nearly 2,000 people in just a few years, earning a reputation for saloons, gambling, fires, and violence—while quietly becoming one of California’s most productive gold districts. Between 1895 and the late 1930s, the Rand District produced an estimated 1,000,000 ounces of gold, with the Yellow Aster alone yielding about 500,000 ounces from more than 3.4 million tons of ore.
The story also covers:
Read more below the vid on youtube.

6:15
 

John J. (Jack) Fraser - The Jack of all Trades and the Legendary JF Ranch's story​

Nov 13, 2025
The legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Mine has fascinated treasure hunters for over a century some think Jack Fraser could have actually found it or did he find his own riches? Join us as we dig deep into the history, rumors, and evidence behind this mysterious tale hidden in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains. Discover what really happened, separate fact from fiction, and uncover the truth behind one of the greatest treasure mysteries in American history.

14:38
 
[PDF]

JOHN J. “JACK” FRASER​

John J. “Jack” Fraser was born in Nova Scotia on December 8, 1855. He moved to the United States from Canada with his parents when he was six years old. He lived in Nevada for twelve years. He …
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…