Much of what physically remains of the Old West has to do with mining. The search for both precious metals and ores needed in the manufacturing of numerous products prompted many to prospect, work the mines and work the miners after their work day was done. Over the next few months I'll try to give a good representation of what is available to go out and see today in this great land of ours as well as the historical development of the towns and areas that brought folks out west to seek their fortunes.
Also check the AmericanWest links to Deadwood, South Dakota, which includes this text from the business directory of Wolfe's Mercantile Guide, Gazetteer, and Business Directory of Cities...", published in 1878.
Ghost Town Gallery - Here is a plethora of photographs of old towns from Montana to Arizona for your perusal; you may even purchase prints of them from this website.
FrontierTrails' Mining page. There is much information here on the mining process - sit back, relax, and read fer a spell.
Check up on Bodie, California. Bodie became a boom town in 1877 and by 1879 Bodie boasted a population of about 10,000 with 2,000 buildings, and was second to none for wickedness, badmen, and "the worst climate out of doors."
This is a link to a very nice website about the Holcomb Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains near Los Angeles, CA.
Keep your tongue in your cheek as you read this account of Cracker Creek in Oregon. Brought to you by the Historical Gazette.
Calico Ghost Town, in the High Desert of California. Founded in March 1881, it grew to a population of 1,200 with 22 saloons and more than 500 mines. Silver was king, and the Calico Mining District became one of the richest in California.
Here is a nice overall picture of Calico from U. C. Berkeley's archives.
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