Near Trinity Center in Trinity County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Bucket Line Dredges
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 3, 2012
1. Bucket Line Dredges Marker
Gold dredging turned the Trinity River upside down for over 50 years, leaving behind mounds of rock tailings. The first operation, in 1889, was the Kise Bros. Dredge. The Carrville Dredge, at this site was the last dredge operating for a few years before and after World War II, then sat idle until shipped to Brazil in 1965. The Valdor Dredge mined the Trinity River between the old Junction City Powerhouse and Lime Point until dismantled in 1922; it was reassembled as the Lewiston Dredge near Eastman Gulch. The Pacific Dredge failed at Coffee Creek, then was moved south to the Graves Ranch at Stringtown. The world’s largest wood hull dredge was the Estabrook, located near Trinity Center, excavating more than 250,000 tons per month. The Trinity Dredge, operated by Mary E. Smith, was the richest, dredging over $2,700,000 in gold from areas now covered by Lewiston Lake. The Junction City (Yuba) was dismantled and rebuilt as the Fairview at Minersville, in 1949, but failed to float and remains at the bottom of Trinity Lake. Other dredges including the Madrona, Galvin, Poker Bar, Gardella, Gold Bar, and Alta Bert #1 and #2.
Erected 2000
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.
Location. 41° 3.173′ N, 122° 41.966′ W. Marker is near Trinity Center, California, in Trinity County. It is at the intersection of California Route 3 and East Side Road, on the left when traveling north on California Route 3. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Trinity Center CA 96091, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Shasta Cascade, on the Coast Ranges, and in the Klamath Mountains. It is also in the American Mountain West and specifically in the Pacific Northwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, on the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 3, 2012
2. Bucket Line Dredges Marker
Viewed from Highway 3.
Also see . . . Trinity County California Gold Production - Western Mining History. By A. H. Koschmann and M. H. Bergendah - USGS 1968
Substantial amounts of gold have been mined from lodes and placers in Trinity County. Mining began in the early 1850's with small-scale placer operations in the Trinity River basin. Later the terrace and channel gravels were worked by hydraulic methods, and huge dragline dredges were used near Junction City and Weaverville. Lode mining has also been successful in the Carrville district. (Submitted on June 10, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 3, 2012
3. Bucket Line Dredges Tailings
Photographed by Doreen Thomson, June 21, 2013
4. Bucket Line Dredges Tailings
5. Bucket Line Dredge Vintage postcard
Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 3,711 times since then and 203 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 10, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on August 23, 2020, by Doreen Thomson of Calgary, Alberta Canada. 5. submitted on June 10, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Closeup photo and wide view photo of the refurbished marker. • Can you help?
