Assignment #4

The theme for this assignment was to document a lost world. I decided to document the history of gold mining in Leesburg, Idaho. My Dad, two of my brothers, and I went up to the mountains at 4:00am. We got to the cabin as the sun started to pop over the ridge line. We continued on into the maze of old mining roads and abandoned homesteads. Finally arriving in Leesburg. This was a mining boomtown around the turn of the last century that became a ghost town. Hippies moved in during the 1960’s, and there are still remnants of both the old miners’ and the hippies’ presence. We also visited the cemetary where the people of Leesburg were buried. On the way off the mountain, we had to pass by the modern mining operations at Beartrack mine. I decided to document the scar where a mountain was removed to get at ore. Then we stopped at Dump Creek Gorge. This gorge was created when miners diverted the creek for the purpose of dredging gold. I have a deep appreciation for the history of these mountains, and the history that is being made today. It was great getting to document the mines and the the way the miners lived.

This used to be a mountain

Three Chinese miners were murdered at this spot for their gold dust.

Old mining equipment in Lemhi County, Idaho

This is the view inside an abandoned mineshaft in Lemhi County, Idaho

This is a historic homestead in Lemhi County, Idaho

Gorge created by dredge activity in Lemhi County, Idaho

The grave of Albert Schmidt 9th Ohio Infintry

This is a window looking right down the old main street in Leesburg, Idaho

This is the living room of an old homestead in Lemhi County, Idaho

Detail view of old mining equipment in Lemhi County, Idaho

An old jar in Leesburg, Idaho.

Main Street Leesburg, Idaho

This is an abandoned mineshaft in Lemhi County, Idaho

One of several signs I disregarded while documenting the old mines.

Old mining Equipment in Lemhi County, Idaho