Mining Museum, Nevada City, Montana 2004
Abandoned mining equipment, including old dredges.
Just 1 ½ mile west of its more famous neighbor of Virginia City, the old mining camp of Nevada City started at the same time when gold was discovered in Alder Gulch in 1863. Numerous settlements were established along Alder Gulch. The scattering of mining camps and buildings that sprawled up and down the gulch for some 14 miles was also known as Fourteen-mile City.
Nevada City quickly peaked, boasting dozens of businesses and cabins. However, by 1869, the population of the mining camp had already fallen to about 100 people. However, it still sported three general stores, two saloons, a blacksmith, a butcher shop, a livery stable, a brewery, and a Masonic Hall. However, by 1876, Nevada City had become a ghost town as the miners moved on to new finds.
In the first five years of Alder Gulch’s heydays, some 30-40 million dollars in gold were taken from the district. Although small mining operations continued to work the original claims for several years, no large operations occurred again until 1896, when the Conrey Placer Mining Company was organized to dredge the gulch. Dredges went to work in 1899 and continued for the next 24 years, processing more than 37 million cubic yards of ground along seven miles of Alder Gulch. By the time the dredges ceased to operate in 1923, some ten million dollars in gold had been recovered, and in their path, many of Nevada City’s buildings were destroyed. The dredges were then disassembled, the equipment sold for salvage, and the heavy wooden barges were left to be reclaimed by Mother Nature slowly. Other original Nevada City buildings were destroyed when the highway was built through the area.
Mining Museum, Nevada City, Montana 2004
Abandoned mining equipment, including old dredges.
Just 1 ½ mile west of its more famous neighbor of Virginia City, the old mining camp of Nevada City started at the same time when gold was discovered in Alder Gulch in 1863. Numerous settlements were established along Alder Gulch. The scattering of mining camps and buildings that sprawled up and down the gulch for some 14 miles was also known as Fourteen-mile City.
Nevada City quickly peaked, boasting dozens of businesses and cabins. However, by 1869, the population of the mining camp had already fallen to about 100 people. However, it still sported three general stores, two saloons, a blacksmith, a butcher shop, a livery stable, a brewery, and a Masonic Hall. However, by 1876, Nevada City had become a ghost town as the miners moved on to new finds.
In the first five years of Alder Gulch’s heydays, some 30-40 million dollars in gold were taken from the district. Although small mining operations continued to work the original claims for several years, no large operations occurred again until 1896, when the Conrey Placer Mining Company was organized to dredge the gulch. Dredges went to work in 1899 and continued for the next 24 years, processing more than 37 million cubic yards of ground along seven miles of Alder Gulch. By the time the dredges ceased to operate in 1923, some ten million dollars in gold had been recovered, and in their path, many of Nevada City’s buildings were destroyed. The dredges were then disassembled, the equipment sold for salvage, and the heavy wooden barges were left to be reclaimed by Mother Nature slowly. Other original Nevada City buildings were destroyed when the highway was built through the area.