There are five markers describing the areaMarker 1:
A history of human interaction with the land
From tribal use to ranching, gold mining, and ecological restoration, the land that is now the Oxbow Conservation Area . . . — — Map (db m107488) HM
There are four graves, that of two women and two men. We do not have records of their time of passing, their names, or their individual location within this enclosure, but assume it to be during the gold rush days of 1862-1880. We also do not know . . . — — Map (db m107538) HM
Gold was discovered on Whiskey Flat in June, 1862; Canyon City quickly grew and became the County Seat by 1864. Scenes and Characters from the early years come alive in this 1996 mural by Larry Kangas.
This colorful history is celebrated at "62 . . . — — Map (db m96719) HM
In June 1862, a company of miners from northern California were heading east over the Strawberry Mountain Range, when one of the men discovered gold on Whiskey Flat, half a mile south of here. Miners from all over the area flocked into the area, and . . . — — Map (db m96722) HM
“What is it that urges a man to risk his life in these precipitous fossil beds? I can answer only for myself, but with me there were two motives, the desire to add to human knowledge, which has been a great motive all my life, and the . . . — — Map (db m114115) HM
This haystack was built on-site from mail order hardware and locally-milled lumber. A hay buck was used to push hay onto the fork. Horses pulling a cable attached to the fork life the load. Tripping a lever near the base released the hay. — — Map (db m158014) HM
James and Elizabeth Cant purchased this property in 1910. Over the following five decades they built the ranch before you. The methods used by the Cants in their early operations were replaced with more modern machinery and techniques as they . . . — — Map (db m158007) HM
The Cant Ranch is one of the best-preserved examples of early 20th century ranching operations in the John Day River Valley. The ranch spans three historic development eras: The Officer Homestead Era (1890-1909); the Cant Sheep Ranch Era . . . — — Map (db m158010) HM
Water, the lifeblood of any working ranch, flows in irrigation ditches fed by rivers, creeks, or a steady spring or two. In this dry landscape, these human-made arteries, like the one before you, have made the rich soils of the flood plain . . . — — Map (db m158011) HM
Marker 1 Shows an overview map of the National Monument with other points of interest.
Marker 2 Like Icing on a Cake. "Between 16.6 million and 15 million years ago, eastern Oregon sat above the nascent Yellowstone hot spot's . . . — — Map (db m108677) HM
The Cant family's touring car might have traveled this trail route frequently. Before highway improvements were made in the 1930s, the trail on which you are standing is a remnant of the historic fabric that makes up this spot, a clue to the way its . . . — — Map (db m158008) HM
The dark layers of Picture Gorge were formed from seventeen distinct floods of lava flowing from nearby cracks in the earth. These basalt flows joined with others covering much of eastern Washington and Oregon, and northern Idaho, beginning about 16 . . . — — Map (db m71521)
For most of the year, this platform sat empty and quiet. For two or three weeks in the spring, however, this small space bustled with bawling sheep, sweaty workmen, and grinding machinery.
Each of the ten workstations was supplied with sheep from . . . — — Map (db m158070) HM
After the sheep were sheared, they went to pasture for the summer, typically a grazing allotment on one of the national forests. Herders trailed the sheep to and from the allotment on foot with the help of skilled dogs, a trip that could take as . . . — — Map (db m158067) HM
You are standing in the middle of a lively watershed. Supporting a diverse community of aquatic and terrestrial life, the John Day River is the longest free-flowing river west of the Rocky Mountains, flowing over 280 miles to its mouth at the . . . — — Map (db m158071) HM
Wool bag stand and bag from the Trosper Ranch near Antone, OR, about 1900.
At shearing time each spring, wool freshly sheared was packed in burlap bags for shipment. The cut wool was tossed into the bag. A person, usually a youth, was inside the . . . — — Map (db m158068) HM
Side A:
Granite, Oregon
Albert G. Tabor first struck gold just below the town of Granite on the Fourth of July, 1862. Tabor named his claim the Independence since his strike was made on Independence Day, and the town that sprang up . . . — — Map (db m106791) HM
The CCC was created in 1933 to provide young men useful work during the Depression. Camp Canyon Creek (Company 1231) was established in 1937. The CCC built numerous facilities such as District offices, the John Day Compound, fire guard stations, . . . — — Map (db m107548) HM
The mining camp town of Canyon City sprang up soon after the discovery of gold in Canyon Creek in 1861 (Note: actually June of 1862).
When Grant County was formed in 1864 Canyon City became the county seat. Meanwhile, "Lower Town" . . . — — Map (db m107547) HM
Has Been Designated a
National Historic Landmark
This property possesses national significance
in commemorating the history of the
United States of America
Kam Wah Chung Company Building is the best and earliest known . . . — — Map (db m112884) HM
This church was built in the late 1890s by an Advent Christian minister. Dedicated in 1900, it was used for worship until the 1930s.
After this congregation disbanded, the church was vacant for several years. During the early 1940s the . . . — — Map (db m114109) HM
Upper Marker:
This church was built in the late 1890s by an Advent Christian minister. Dedicated in 1900 it was used for worship until the 1930s. After this congregation disbanded, the church was vacant for several years. During the . . . — — Map (db m107546) HM
Welcome to Kam Wah Chung
In 1890 you would be standing in the middle of a bustling Chinatown.Businesses and homes all around you, the temple in front, and Kam Wah Chung- the core of the community- would be to your left. Why is it the only . . . — — Map (db m112887) HM
Elevation 5000 feet Surface 50 acres
Depth 98 feet.
Magone Lake was formed in the early 1800s by a landslide which dammed Lake Creek. Notice the tilted trees which rode down with the slide.
The lake was named for "Major" Magone and . . . — — Map (db m107489) HM
Imagine the American Indians first creating trails through these mountains hundreds of years ago. Later, in 1825 and 1826, Hudson Bay Fur Company trappers, led by Peter Skeene Ogden, crossed this very pass. In 1862 more people made this difficult . . . — — Map (db m107101) HM
For the longest time life here in Bear Valley as quiet and change was slow.
Native American seasonal camps gave way to small ranching operations of the first Europeans. In good weather the stagecoach ran through the valley. And in 1895, . . . — — Map (db m108734) HM
After spending a day skidding logs, laying track or building Seneca's first homes, the workers needed a place to call home; temporarily at least.
In 1928 "Camp One" was established southwest of here, and with boxcars for homes, . . . — — Map (db m108735) HM
Back in the early 1920's you may have left the dirt streets and wooden sidewalks of the town of Burns, to walk in these woods, where untouched ponderosa stood tall.
But in a few short years, one of the biggest ever timber sales in the . . . — — Map (db m108836) HM
When the railroad was being built the forest here was a busy place with trees being felled to make ties, and rock being blasted for ballast. In February 1927, forest ranger G. C. Blake reported:
"Yesterday I made the trip from . . . — — Map (db m108872) HM
