Yreka in Siskiyou County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Thompson’s Dry Diggings

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, October 22, 2013

1. Thompson’s Dry Diggings Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Gold was discovered here in March, 1851 by Abraham Thompson, member of a party which was enroute (sic) from Oregon to Scott Bar. Following a heavy rain storm, particles of gold in the roots of grass pulled up by pack animals caused Thompson to wash three pans of gravel. The result convinced the party that the area was rich enough to work. In the party were Dr. F.G. Hearn, Judge Silas J. Day and Mr. Bell, Thompson’s partner. All staked claims on these flats, thirty feet square, and it was named “Thompson’s Dry Diggings”. Within six weeks 2,00 prospectors rushed here to mine, but need of water caused the settlement to move to the creek, and it became known as Shasta Butte City. This name being confused with Shasta in Shasta County, was changed to “I-E-KA”, the Indian word for Mt. Shasta, “now Yreka” in 1852.

Erected by
Siskiyou County Historical Society
1948

Erected 1948 by Siskiyou County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1851.

Location.

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41° 44.182′ N, 122° 38.837′ W. Marker is in Yreka, California, in Siskiyou County. Marker is on Yama Street near Discovery Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 850 Yama Street, Yreka CA 96097, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Yreka Trail – A Mighty Town (here, next to this marker); First Log House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Carnegie Library Building (approx. half a mile away); Chamberlain-Stimmel Building (approx. half a mile away); Witherill Building (approx. half a mile away); Peters & DeWitt Building (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Peters & DeWitt Building (approx. 0.6 miles away); Witherill/Winckler Building (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yreka.

More about this marker. This marker is located in Discovery Park, bordered by Yama Street, Discovery Street and Park Place.

Also see . . .
1. Thompson's Dry Diggings Monument. "Yreka History" entry:
This approximate spot, where gold was first discovered, was researched by Alex J. Rosborough, O. G. Steele, and W. B. H. Fairchild prior to the decision to erect this monument. On the top of the brass plaque is an artist's depiction of the gold discovery. (Submitted on November 13, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

2. History of Yreka. City of Yreka webpage:
In March 1851 Abraham Thompson, a mule train packer, discovered gold near Black Gulch while traveling along the Siskiyou Trail from Southern
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, October 22, 2013

2. Thompson’s Dry Diggings Marker
Oregon. This discovery sparked an extension of the California Gold Rush from California's Sierra Nevada into Northern California. (Submitted on November 13, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Abraham Thompson, founder of Thompson’s Dry Diggings, on left image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, circa n/a

3. Abraham Thompson, founder of Thompson’s Dry Diggings, on left

Credits. This page was last revised on January 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 557 times since then and 152 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 13, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.