Quincy in Plumas County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Spanish Creek Mines

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 30, 2012

1. Spanish Creek Mines Marker

Click on photo for a close-up of the site map detailing the location of the Spanish Creek Mines.

Inscription. Millions in gold were taken from the Spanish Creek Mines between 1851 and 1905. To supply the miners the small town of New Boston sprang up at the mouth of Wahponsey Creek. Complete with a toll gate, apple orchard and gardens, in the 1870’s it was covered by slickins from the large hydraulic mines nearby. Water to mine was brought from Silver Lake, and Upper Spanish Creek by a ditch, some 20 miles long. Gopher Hill, Plumas County’s largest hydraulic mine, is now the county dump. Also through this area ran the historic Beckwourth Emigrant Trail.

Erected 1997 by E Clampus Vitus, Las Plumas del Oro Chapter No. 8.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. In addition, it is included in the Beckwourth Trail, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.

Location. 39° 56.962′ N, 121° 2.166′ W. Marker is in Quincy, California, in Plumas County. It can be reached from the intersection of Bucks Lake Road (County Route 119) and Snake Lake Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Quincy CA 95971, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Shasta Cascade

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

on the Ring of Fire,

in 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 least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Spanish Ranch (approx. 1.1 miles away); Meadow Valley Historical Site

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(approx. 1.9 miles away); Elizabethtown (approx. 4.3 miles away); Feather Publishing Co. (approx. 4.7 miles away); Plumas County Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.7 miles away); Forest Stationers (approx. 4.7 miles away); World War Memorial (approx. 4.8 miles away); Goodwin Law Office (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Quincy.

Also see . . . Upper Spanish Creek - California Gold. Over the years a lot of gold has been recovered in Plumas County California. At the time of the gold discovery at Sutter’s Mill, Plumas County was largely a unexplored area by most white men, but Peter Lassen (whom Lassen County is named after ) had pioneered the Lassen Trail across northern Plumas in 1847. (Submitted on June 18, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 30, 2012

2. Spanish Creek Mines Marker

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 30, 2012

3. Spanish Creek Mines Marker

The Snake Lake Road bridge is visible in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,220 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 18, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.