Near Pierce in Clearwater County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)
Boom & Chinese of Pierce
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 6, 2018
1. Boom & Chinese of Pierce Marker
Inscription.
Boom and Chinese of Pierce. . During the gold rush boom, the population exceeded 6,000. At that time Pierce was actually located in Washington Territory. In 1861, Pierce became the first established gold rush town in Idaho, and the county seat of Shoshone County. In 1862, the county built a courthouse/jail at a cost of $3,700, which was Idaho's first governmental building (still standing behind the J.H. Bradury Logging Museum in Pierce). The Idaho Territory was established in 1863 and Pierce remained the Shoshone County Seat until 1885, when the county seat was moved to Murray. Lewiston, which was a prospering tent city as a result of providing supplies to the miners of Pierce, was actually Idaho's first capitol in 1863. (A late-night theft of the state's seal and archives ended that claim in 1866.) , Between 1861 and 1866, it is estimated that $3.4 million was produced in the area. By 1885, however, the town of Pierce ha decreased significantly in population. Most of the white men had moved on to more promising gold strikes to the south and east. When they left, the Chinese moved in, leasing and working the abandoned claims. There was a great deal of friction and lack of trust between the Chinese and remaining white men, which caused a number of violent incidences on both side. , Text adapted from Layne Gellner Spencer's "And Five Were Hanged", c 1971.)
During the gold rush boom, the population exceeded 6,000. At that time Pierce was actually located in Washington Territory. In 1861, Pierce became the first established gold rush town in Idaho, and the county seat of Shoshone County. In 1862, the county built a courthouse/jail at a cost of $3,700, which was Idaho's first governmental building (still standing behind the J.H. Bradury Logging Museum in Pierce). The Idaho Territory was established in 1863 and Pierce remained the Shoshone County Seat until 1885, when the county seat was moved to Murray. Lewiston, which was a prospering tent city as a result of providing supplies to the miners of Pierce, was actually Idaho's first capitol in 1863. (A late-night theft of the state's seal and archives ended that claim in 1866.)
Between 1861 and 1866, it is estimated that $3.4 million was produced in the area. By 1885, however, the town of Pierce ha decreased significantly in population. Most of the white men had moved on to more promising gold strikes to the south and east. When they left, the Chinese moved in, leasing and working the abandoned claims. There was a great deal of friction and lack of trust between the Chinese and remaining white men, which caused a number of violent incidences on both side.
Text adapted from Layne Gellner Spencer's "And Five Were Hanged",
Location. 46° 28.302′ N, 115° 49.08′ W. Marker is near Pierce, Idaho, in Clearwater County. Marker can be reached from State Highway 11 at milepost 27 near Fromelt Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pierce ID 83546, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This marker is on a short trail leading north to the site of the Chinese Hanging.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 6, 2018
2. Boom & Chinese of Pierce Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 297 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 11, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.