Near Lake George in Park County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Digging In
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 2020
1. Digging In Marker
In 1859-60, thousands of people drawn by the promise of gold crossed over the passes into South Park.Towns named Tarryall, Fairplay, and Buckskin sprang up. This first boom receded by 1864, but the discovery of silver in 1870 spurred another mining rush.
Coal found near Como supported the operation of the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railway, which hauled ore, gold, silver, coal, and passengers between Denver and Leadville over Boreas Pass.
In the 1920s, dredge boats began mining for gold on the South Platte River. The dredges produced huge tailings, or piles of discarded gravel. By the 1950s, the high cost of mining in a harsh landscape forced most operations to close. Only a few mines operate in South Park today.
The amount of soil and rock removed from South Park equaled about 3.3 million dump trucks filled with gravel. In the end, 115,000 ounces of gold was extracted - enough to fill about 8 grocery bags.
Captions
Top left: The town of Buckskin Joe didn't last.
Center left: Arrastras crushed ore with heavy stones, so miners could recover the gold.
Bottom
this page online
Erected by U.S. Forest Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.
Location. 39° 2.267′ N, 105° 31.545′ W. Marker is near Lake George, Colorado, in Park County. Marker can be reached from U.S. 24. Marker is located at the Wilkerson Pass Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake George CO 80827, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fire Nature's Own Cleanser (here, next to this marker); Enough Water for Everyone? (here, next to this marker); Bayou Salado "Salt Marsh" (here, next to this marker); Turning Gold Fields into Fields of Green (here, next to this marker); Footpaths to Highways (a few steps from this marker); Human Lives & Landscapes Inextricably Intertwined (a few steps from this marker); Pikes Peak and National Forests (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Blue Sky People (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake George.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 2020
2. Digging In Marker Detail
The town of Buckskin Joe didn't last.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 2020
3. Digging In Marker Detail
Arrastras crushed ore with heavy stones, so miners could recover the gold.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 2020
4. Digging In Marker Detail
The South Platte Dredge, shown above, left tailings that can be seen southeast of Fairplay. The abandoned Snowstorm Dredge lies east of Highway 9.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 2020
5. Digging In Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 107 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 20, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
