Murray in Shoshone County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)
Gold
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2013
1. Gold Marker
Gold was first discovered near the town of Murray in 1882. A.J. Prichard and his partners, Markson, Gellatt and Gerard, had come to the Coeur d’Alenes from Walla Walla, WA. following Mullan’s Military Road. Their prospecting started near Kellogg, ID and progressed to Beaver Cr. While en route they failed to discover the rich placer ground on Trail Cr. Working up Prichard Cr., the men’s tenacity yielded a strike. A.J. Prichard is credited with the area’s first gold discovery, but the actual person and location are unknown.
Before disbanding the partners had sworn to secrecy their discovery. But Prichard informed certain members of the Liberal League and the rush was on. Lured to the area were 5000 miners, prospectors and camp followers during the winter of 1883/84. Advertised for the rich “Diggins”, the pioneer mining camp of Eagle arose over night, but was quickly abandoned in favor of Murray. As the rush for gold around Murray waned, prospecting spread out to the south fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. In 1996 the mining activity shifted to the south side with the discovery of vast silver – lead
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Gold production continued, but the boom town luster was gone. A short lived gold renaissance occurred from 1918 to 1925 when the Yukon Gold Co. dredged Prichard Cr.
Erected by Idaho Panhandle National Forests, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.
Location. 47° 37.618′ N, 115° 51.439′ W. Marker is in Murray, Idaho, in Shoshone County. It is on Pritchard Creek Road 0.1 miles Kings Pass Road, on the right when traveling west. Prichard Creek road runs east/west through the center of Murray, Idaho, just one block north of Thompson Pass Road, the primary access into Murray. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6336 Prichard Creek Rd Idaho, Murray ID 83874, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Idaho — Idaho’s Panhandle. It is also in the American Mountain West and specifically in the Pacific Northwest. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2013
2. Gold Marker (Wide View)
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Shoshone County Courthouse (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Burke (approx. 7.7 miles away); Frisco Mill (approx. 7.9 miles away); Hercules Mill (approx. 10.9 miles away); "The Big Blowup" (approx. 10.9 miles away); a different marker also named "The Big Blowup" (approx. 10.9 miles away); Wallace (approx. 10.9 miles away); Wallace World War Memorial (approx. 11 miles away).
More about this marker. It is a large wooden marker with embossed white letters.
Also see . . .
1. The Historic Small Town That Every Idahoan Should Visit At Least Once. Only in Your State website entry (Submitted on August 16, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. The Sprag Pole Inn and Museum. Adventure Rider website entry:
Walt Almquist purchased the building in 1933 and later remodeled the structure and opened the Sprag Pole Inn, named after the supporting poles once needed to help hold up the wooden walls in hard winters. A friend gave him an old whiskey jug to display behind the bar, and the
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2013
3. Murray, Idaho Post Office
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2013
4. Murray, Idaho Totems
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2013
5. Unidentified Machinery
Unidentified rusted, antique machinery in Murray, Idaho, probably from the gold mining era.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 16, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 7, 2014, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,003 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 7, 2014, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
