Alder Gulch facts for kids
Alder Gulch is a famous place in the Ruby River valley, in the state of Montana, United States. It is also sometimes called Alder Creek. This area became very well known because a huge amount of gold was found there.
The name "Alder Gulch" comes from the alder bushes that grew all along the creek.
Contents
The Discovery of Gold
Gold was first discovered in Alder Gulch on May 26, 1863. A group of men led by William Fairweather found it. They were returning from another gold area called Grasshopper Creek near Bannack, Montana.
- The group was heading towards Yellowstone Country.
- But Crow Indians told them to leave their hunting grounds.
- So, the miners crossed the Tobacco Root Mountains.
- They camped for the night in a place called Elk Park.
- There, William Fairweather and Henry Edgar found gold!
- The rest of the group was out hunting for food.
The miners decided to keep their amazing discovery a secret. They went back to Bannack to get supplies. But the news quickly spread. Other miners followed the Fairweather group out of town.
Starting the Mining District
The Fairweather party stopped at a spot called Point of Rocks. Here, they held a meeting for all the miners. They created the Fairweather Mining District. It was decided that the people who discovered the gold would get two claims. They also got to choose their claims first.
The Great Gold Rush
The first wave of miners arrived at Alder Gulch on June 6, 1863. The area quickly became very busy. In less than three months, over 10,000 people moved there!
- The mining area stretched for 14 miles.
- It was called the "Fourteen Mile City."
- Many small towns grew up along the gulch.
- These included Virginia City, Montana, Nevada City, Montana, Junction City, and Central City.
When miners first arrived, they lived in simple shelters. Some stayed in brush huts called wickiups. Others lived in dugouts or under rocks. Soon, they started building cabins. The very first building in Virginia City was a bakery. Virginia City and Nevada City became the main centers for business.
How Much Gold Was Found?
The gold found in Alder Gulch was from placer mining. This means the gold was found in loose sand and gravel. It was the richest placer gold ever discovered!
- In just three years, miners took out $30,000,000 worth of gold.
- About $10,000,000 of that was found in the very first year.
Today, Virginia City is much quieter. But a large granite monument marks the spot where the gold was first found on May 26, 1863.
Images for kids
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Hydraulic gold mining in Alder Gulch, 1871. This photo was taken by William Henry Jackson.
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Miners looking for gold in Alder Gulch, 1872.
