Dig Into Idaho’s History With A Look At These 9 Mining Photos From The Early 1900s
By Courtnie Erickson|Published March 16, 2022
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Courtnie Erickson
Author
From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
While Idaho is home to a variety of minerals, it was gold that brought many of the first settlers into the state. In fact, gold was one of the reasons behind the creation of the Idaho territory in the 1860s. Eventually, over the years, more minerals were discovered including silver, zinc, and lead. We are fascinated by Idaho’s rich mining history and so we got right to work, gathering photos from the early 1900s that give us just a glimpse into this important part of Idaho’s history. Below are just some of our favorites.
1. In this incredible photo, miners work the machinery at a quartz mine in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District. This photo was captured around 1916.
6. This photo shows some of the mining buildings in Shoshone County in 1920. Silver Valley, located in northern Idaho, is one of the richest sources of silver in the entire United States. In fact, approximately 45 percent of all silver mined in the United States comes from Idaho.
What did you think of these mining photos? Were there any photos that stood out to you? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Did you know that you can experience the history of mining in Idaho first-hand? Take a mining tour in Idaho and see if you have what it takes to be a miner!
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