Placerville in El Dorado County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Stamp Mill

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 30, 2013

1. The Stamp Mill Marker

Inscription. Local residents remember that the thunderous crashing staccato of the ore stamp mill could be heard for miles in the narrow canyon. The song of the stamps had been a familiar sound in this area for since George Cozens erected the first mill here in the 1890’s for the Silver Pine Mine. Operated as the Schiff Mill through the 1920’s, it was completely rebuilt by Horace P. Moulton in the mid-1930’s and opened up for local and regional use.

Stamp mills were located near mines so that the ore could be easily transported and crushed into powder, which was then washed or combined with mercury to extract the gold. Consignments from a few tons to hundreds of tons were usually processed here.

Erected by Gold Bug Park and Town of Placerville.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources.

Location. 38° 44.687′ N, 120° 48.013′ W. Marker is in Placerville, California, in El Dorado County. It can be reached from Josua Hendy Lane north of Gold Bug Lane. The marker is located on the path to the entrance to the stamp mill building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2500 Gold Bug Lane, Placerville CA 95667, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sacramento Metro,

in the Gold Country,

in the Sierra Nevada,

and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

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

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within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hangtown’s Gold Bug Park (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gold Bug, A Neighborhood Mine (about 700 feet away); Placerville (approx. one mile away); Bee-Bennett House (approx. one mile away); Joseph M. Staples (approx. one mile away); County of El Dorado Courthouse Restoration (approx. one mile away); Thomas Maul (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named Placerville (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Placerville.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 30, 2013

2. The Stamp Mill Marker

The upper portion of the stamp mill building is visible in the background. The upper portion now houses the blacksmith shop.

The Stamp Mill Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 30, 2013

3. The Stamp Mill Building

Stamp Mill Replica image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 30, 2013

4. Stamp Mill Replica

This scale model of the original stamp mill is used to demonstrate a working stamp mill.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2013, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,207 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 31, 2013, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.