Near Riverport in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)

The Ovens

Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 2007

1. The Ovens - Site Of 1861 Goldrush - Marker

Inscription. The site of the famous old-time gold rush. Gold was discovered here June 13th. 1861. Eighty two shore claims were worked. Lots on the shore sold as high as 4,800 dollars. From June until December 1861 The Ovens yielded 120,000 in gold without the aid of machinery. A town arose overnight but only lasted six years.

Erected 1995 by Natalie Corkum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is June 13, 1861.

Location. 44° 19.234′ N, 64° 15.419′ W. Marker is near Riverport, Nova Scotia, in Lunenburg. It is at the intersection of Ovens Road and Sea Cave Trail, on the right when traveling north on Ovens Road. The marker is 100 metres north of the office for The Ovens Park, a private campground. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 326 Ovens Road, Riverport NS B0J 2X0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Maritimes

and in Atlantic Canada.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony

and also the Viceroyalty of New France.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lunenburg’s Shipbuilding Tradition (approx. 7.4 kilometers away); Foreign Protestants & the Settlement of Lunenburg (approx. 7.4 kilometers away); Defence of Lunenburg (approx. 7.4 kilometers away); The Sack of Lunenburg (approx. 7.4 kilometers away);

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Rum Running (approx. 7.4 kilometers away); Lunenburg - Home of the Bluenose & Bluenose II (approx. 7.5 kilometers away); The Labrador Whaler Anderson Bros. (approx. 7.5 kilometers away); Lunenburg’s Fishing Industry Since 1940’s (approx. 7.5 kilometers away).

Regarding The Ovens. Notes:
1. "The Ovens" is the name for the sea caves very near this location.
2. The marker says "120,000 in gold" - they omitted the unit. It could be grains - this would be 275 ounces.
3. Natalie Corkum was the wife of the chief of police of Lunenburg County for many years.

Also see . . . Ovens Natural Park and Sea Cave Trail. (Submitted on September 16, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario.)

Crushing Stones? - used in gold extraction? image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 18, 2007

2. Crushing Stones? - used in gold extraction?

A sign says these are for crushing ore; but the 2nd stone from the left is grooved like a millstone... perhaps it was a millstone first, THEN a crushing stone. The photograph was taken from near the marker.

The Ovens Sea Caves image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 18, 2007

3. The Ovens Sea Caves

Credits. This page was last revised on March 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 93 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 16, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.