Mining & Ranching

Mining and Ranching. A Legacy in the Eastern Sierra. , Mining has played a vital role in the local economies of the Eastern Sierra beginning in the 1860s. Historically significant mines include: , , The Mine in the Sky , Twenty miles west of here lies the Pine Creek Tungsten mine. During World War II, it became this country's largest tungsten producer. Due to innovative mining and milling methods, it remained active from 1938 to 1990. Tungsten has the highest melting point of all metals (6170° F), it has been used in high speed cutting tools, tire studs, electrical contacts, razor blades, and lamp filaments. , , Pine Creek Tungsten Mine was nicknamed "The Mine in the Sky" because its entrance was near the base of the mountain and miners traveled upwards by elevator inside it to reach the ore deposits. , , Cerro Gordo , Cerro Gordo mines are a collection of abandoned mines located in the Inyo Mountains. Once California's largest silver mine, it operated from 1866 to 1957 producing high grade silver, lead, and zinc ones. The once booming mine town is now a storied ghost town and historic treasure, perched high above Owens Lake, 60 miles south of Bishop. , , , Generations of ranchers continue to keep this iconic western tradition alive in the Eastern Sierra by stewarding and conserving local rangelands while contributing to our local, state, and national agricultural needs. , , The 1861 Cattle Drive , In 1861, cattlemen drove herds of cattle 300 miles from the Central Valley through the southern Sierra Nevada at Walker Pass to the Owens Valley. During the cattle drive, they noticed that the northern Owens Valley was perfect for raising livestock. , , White Settlers Arrived , To avoid the long journey from the other side of the mountains, a few cattlemen decided to settle in the valley, including Samuel Bishop. Driving 600 head of cattle and 50 horses, these families were the first white settlers in the valley. , , The cattlemen were soon followed by Basque sheepmen. Remnants of these early settlers stone corrals and fences can still be seen north of Bishop along Highway 395 in Round Valley. , , To learn more about local ranching and mining history, visit Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site in Bishop, Eastern California Museum in Independence, Mono County Museum in Bridgeport, and Mono Basin Historical Society Museum in Lee Vining.