Mullan in Shoshone County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

Welcome to Silver Valley

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 9, 2018

1. Welcome to Silver Valley Marker

Inscription. More than 1.2 billion ounces of silver have been mined in Idaho's Silver Valley where once hundreds of mines were actively worked. Today there are just a few active operations remaining. Below you is the impoundment that stores tailings from Hecla's Lucky Friday Mine. These tailings are the fine grained rock that remains after the valuable silver, lead and zinc minerals have been removed. This impoundment is a synthetically lined, earthen fill dam that will store 2.64 million tons of tailings. When it is complete the area will be covered and planted to native grasses and shrubs.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Natural Resources.

Location. 47° 27.744′ N, 115° 42.642′ W. Marker is in Mullan, Idaho, in Shoshone County. It is on Interstate 90 at milepost 71, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mullan ID 83846, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Idaho — Idaho’s Panhandle.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and specifically

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in the Pacific Northwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 1910 Fire (a few steps from this marker); Willow Creek Slide (approx. 1.2 miles away); Lead-Silver Mines (approx. 1.2 miles away); A wonderful Piece of Engineering: The Mullan Road (approx. 4.8 miles away in Montana); A Lost World (approx. 4.9 miles away in Montana); Join the Voyage of Discovery (approx. 4.9 miles away in Montana); The Trail Follows the Trains (approx. 5.8 miles away in Montana); St. Paul Pass Tunnel (approx. 5.8 miles away in Montana). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mullan.

Other markers no longer nearby. Murray Gold Fields (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing); History of Lookout Pass (was approx. 0.8 miles away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. This marker is located at a east-bound turnout on Interstate Highway 90, just west of Lookout Pass and the Montana/Idaho stateline.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 9, 2018

2. Welcome to Silver Valley Marker

Photographed by Richard Hawkins, August 15, 2026

3. Welcome to Silver Valley Marker

Photographed by Richard Hawkins, August 15, 2026

4. Welcome to Silver Valley Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 688 times since then and 68 times this year. Last updated on September 3, 2018, by T. Patton of Jefferson, Georgia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 2, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3, 4. submitted on August 15, 2026, by Richard Hawkins of Phelan, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.