Gold Mining
The first documented discovery of gold in the United States was in 1799 in Cabarrus County (formerly Mecklenburg) by twelve-year-old Conrad Reed. Reed Gold Mine is now a state historic site. Gold was discovered in Mecklenburg in 1802 near Hozzell's Ferry.
In 1825, Samuel McComb opened a gold mine on his land near the town of Charlotte. The Comb mine was called the Charlotte Mine and later, Saint Catherine's Mine.The neighboring Rudisill Mine opened in 1826 and closed for the last time in 1938. The Rudisill and Saint Catherine's mines were the most profitable of more than 87 gold mines, which once dotted Mecklenburg County, several of them in what is now in uptown Charlotte.
Charlotte streets are "paved with gold." Love value ore from the mines was used to temper the dirt and mud on town streets and remained the base for later paving. Mining became one of the region's most important industries with experienced miners coming from Europe to make Charlotte their permanent home. Mecklenburg was the center of the nation's mining activities until the California gold rush in 1849.
The Charlotte branch of the United States Mint opened in 1837 on West Trade Street and operated until 1861, minting over $5,000,000 in gold coins. Coins minted in Charlotte are extremely rare today. In 1936, the Mint building was dismantled and
this page online
The legacy and success of mining in North Carolina led to another major industry for Charlotte: banking. The Rudisill Mine was purchased in 1878 by investors including Robert M. Miller for the original directors of Commerce National Bank, now known as Bank of America.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1799.
Location. 35° 13.752′ N, 80° 50.593′ W. Marker is in Charlotte, North Carolina, in Mecklenburg County. It is in Charlotte center city. Marker is on West 5th Street just west of North Church Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 W Trade St, Charlotte NC 28202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Early Education (here, next to this marker); The Importance Of Religion (here, next to this marker); Hornets' Nest (here, next to this marker); Census Information (here, next to this marker); The War Between The States (here, next to this marker); The Battle of Charlotte (here, next to this marker); Captain James Jack's Ride (here, next to this marker); The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlotte.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 515 times since then and 66 times this year. Last updated on June 20, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 20, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
