Eureka Landing, Arizona facts for kids

Eureka, also known as Eureka Landing, was once a busy mining town and a place where steamboats stopped. Today, it is a ghost town located on the Arizona side of the Colorado River. It is found in what is now La Paz County, Arizona. When it was first settled, from 1863 through the 1870s, it was part of Yuma County, Arizona.

The Story of Eureka

In the fall of 1863, something exciting happened. People discovered a lot of silver in the Chocolate Mountains of Arizona. This discovery led to the creation of the Eureka Mining District.

Because of these new silver mines, two towns started to grow. These were Eureka Landing and Williamsport. They served as important stops for the mines. You can even see these landings and the mining district on a map from 1865. This map showed the new Arizona Territory.

Eureka itself was a small group of buildings made of adobe. These buildings were right on the riverbank. It was about 45 miles up the river from a place called Arizona City. It was also just 2 miles down the river from Williamsport. On the other side of the river was another mining area, the Picacho Mining District.

What's Left of Eureka Today?

Today, the old Eureka Landing on the riverbank has completely disappeared. There is almost nothing left to see. The only thing that still shows where Eureka was is the Eureka Mine. This mine was abandoned long ago. It sits in a canyon above the old town site.