Near Archer City in Archer County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Archer County Copper Mines
(Ό mile northeast and 5 miles to the south southeast)
Photographed by Gary Estep, October 26, 2025
1. Archer County Copper Mines Marker
Inscription.
Archer County Copper Mines. (Ό mile northeast and 5 miles to the south southeast). The civilized world first heard of copper in this area from Texas Rangers after an 1860 campaign against Comanches on the Pease River, about 100 miles to the northwest. The Ranger Captain, Lawrence S. ("Sul") Ross, later to serve Texas as Governor, had nuggets picked off the surface of the ground and hauled to Austin. In 1861, Assistant State Geologist S.B. Buckley charted the mineral site. The Rangers' ore haul was processed and used in gun caps for Confederate forces during the Civil War. To get more of the needed metal, the Texas Copper Mining and Manufacturing Company was founded on May 28, 1864, but wartime shortage of men apparently prevented recovery of copper at that time. The T.C.M.&M. Co., based in Dallas, sent W.F. Cummings to Archer County in 1880 to open mining sites. Although the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture and Statistics reported in 1882 that no mining had commenced, ore eventually was hauled out and shipped to smelters in the east. No central vein or deposit could be found., The Boston and Texas Copper Company of Tucson, Ariz., leased the mine site here in 1899. It produced some copper ore which was processed in El Paso, but again the project failed to meet expectations
The civilized world first heard of copper in this area from Texas Rangers after an 1860 campaign against Comanches on the Pease River, about 100 miles to the northwest. The Ranger Captain, Lawrence S. ("Sul") Ross, later to serve Texas as Governor, had nuggets picked off the surface of the ground and hauled to Austin. In 1861, Assistant State Geologist S.B. Buckley charted the mineral site. The Rangers' ore haul was processed and used in gun caps for Confederate forces during the Civil War. To get more of the needed metal, the Texas Copper Mining & Manufacturing Company was founded on May 28, 1864, but wartime shortage of men apparently prevented recovery of copper at that time. The T.C.M.&M. Co., based in Dallas, sent W.F. Cummings to Archer County in 1880 to open mining sites. Although the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture and Statistics reported in 1882 that no mining had commenced, ore eventually was hauled out and shipped to smelters in the east. No central vein or deposit could be found.
The Boston & Texas Copper Company of Tucson, Ariz., leased the mine site here in 1899. It produced some copper ore which was
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processed in El Paso, but again the project failed to meet expectations
Erected 1971 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 190.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. A significant historical date for this entry is May 28, 1864.
Location. 33° 38.816′ N, 98° 42.381′ W. Marker is near Archer City, Texas, in Archer County. It is on State Highway 25 4½ miles west of State Highway 79, on the right when traveling west. About 4½ miles northwest of Archer City. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Archer City TX 76351, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Big Country. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Geraldine (approx. 4½ miles away); Branch T. Archer (approx. 5.8 miles
Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2009, by Scott Essary of Archer City, Texas. This page has been viewed 4,565 times since then and 147 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on October 27, 2025, by Gary Estep of Anna, Texas. 2. submitted on November 30, 2021, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. 3. submitted on April 13, 2009, by Scott Essary of Archer City, Texas. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
