Cottage Grove in Lane County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Bohemia Mining Museum
⎯⎯⎯
E Clampus Vitus

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 11, 2026

1. Bohemia Mining Museum / E Clampus Vitus Marker

Inscription.
Bohemia Mining Museum The Bohemia Mining District, southeast of Cottage Grove, Oregon, was established in 1867 and covered roughly 60 square miles. With Bohemia Mountain as the hub of the district, it was the largest mineral producing area in the western Cascade Range of Oregon, though eastern and southern mining districts produced more gold.

In the spring of 1863, an outlaw named James Johnson was on the run and hiding in the mountains after killing an Indian in Roseburg. While dressing a deer, he discovered some extremely rich specimens of gold-bearing quartz in a stream at the base of a mountain. Johnson, allegedly from the old country of Bohemia, had been dubbed, “Bohemia Johnson” by his friends. Hence, the mountain and surrounding mining districts became known as Bohemia.

Gold discoveries brought many prospectors, and in the summer of 1864 and 1865, over 100 placer and quartz claims were staked in the area. Bohemia’s heyday lasted from 1889 to 1906, marking the greatest recorded production of gold, silver, copper and other minerals over any other time. During this period the district reported over 2,000 recorded

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claims and 60 stamp mills in operation. Mining continues to this day on a small scale and recreational level.

Though thousands of people lived and worked in the Bohemia Mining District, very little remains of the buildings, machinery, trails and lives of the early miners. The Bohemia Gold Mining Museum was established in 2003 to preserve the rich heritage of the Bohemia Mining District. Please step in and learn more about this fascinating chapter in our local history.

E Clampus Vitus E Clampus Vitus was formed in 1845, in West Virginia and moved west with the California Gold Rush of 1849. Membership spread like wildfire throughout the thousands of mining camps and towns that seemed to spring up almost overnight. The life of a miner, whether working his own claim or in a larger operation was rugged, dangerous, often short and a bit of a nomadic existence. Entertainment was a cherished commodity and members of E Clampus Vitus appreciated life’s absurdities whenever possible. A good prank or a practical joke, often at someone else’s expense, brought a much-needed relief from the serious business of just getting through the day.

In

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 11, 2026

2. Bohemia Mining Museum / E Clampus Vitus Marker

The marker resides on the museum building.

addition to their notorious, fun-loving ways, members would regularly answer the call to provide assistance to their communities, each other and most importantly, to the widows and orphans of fallen miners. It was a brotherhood that welcomes the hard-working and usually rowdy souls that generally did not “fit in” amongst more formal organizations. It was once said that, “Clampers are not made, they are born. Like gold they just have to be discovered.”

Dedicated on August 10th, 2019 (6024) By the Abernathy-Gray 1792 Outpost of Doc Maynard Chapter No.54-40 of The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus. “Credo Quia Absurdum”

Erected 2019 by Abernathy-Gray 1792 Outpost of Doc Maynard Chapter No.54-40 of The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 10, 2019.

Location. 43° 47.68′ N, 123° 3.473′ W. Marker is in Cottage Grove, Oregon, in Lane County.

Bohemia Mining Museum welcome sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 11, 2026

3. Bohemia Mining Museum welcome sign

This welcome sign greets visitors to the museum during operation hours and highlights the Bohemia Mining District on an illustrated map.

It is at the intersection of South 10th Street and East Jefferson Ave, on the left when traveling south on South 10th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 308 S 10th St, Cottage Grove OR 97424, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Willamette Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Billowing Steam to Bicycles (approx. 0.2 miles away); Stewart and Hinds Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Animal House (approx. ¼ mile away); Old City Hall (approx. ¼ mile away); Lena Flaiskey Becker (approx. ¼ mile away); Hiroshima Peace Tree / Peace Pole Project (approx. ¼ mile away); Bank Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Liberty Bell (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cottage Grove.

Bohemia Mining Museum interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 11, 2026

4. Bohemia Mining Museum interior

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 11, 2026

5. Bohemia Mining Museum interior

Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 37 times since then. Last updated on April 17, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 16, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Bohemia Mining Museum⎯⎯⎯E Clampus Vitus

Bohemia Mining Museum
⎯⎯⎯
E Clampus Vitus