Boomtowns to Ghost Towns: Mining in 19th-Century America

Boomtowns to Ghost Towns: Mining in 19th-Century AmericaUS History: Spiconardi

Comstock LodeIn 1859, two men found gold on the land of Henry ComstockComstock soon discovered silver was also in the lodeSilver was actually more valuable at the timeComstock Lode becomes one of the richest silver mines in the world

The Mining Process

Mining Process

Life in the BoomtownsMost prospectors in lived in tentsAs more and more prospectors came out west, stores, hotels, and buildings emergedTent towns soon became boomtowns

Life in the BoomtownsThe Prospectors and MinersAlmost 50% of the miners were foreign-bornForeign born miners faced discriminationChinese were prevented from claiming abandoned mining sites.Chinese and Mexicans were only allowed to perform the dangerous labor of going into the mines

Life in the BoomtownWomen You might not think women were involved in the rough world of mining towns butOpened restaurants to feed the minersLaundry service for minersRented rooms to minersOften women made more money than their prospecting husbandsWomen were seen as voice of moralityHad to Christianize the Chinese, unmarried mothers, and Indians

ProblemsThe ExpenseEquipment costs more than the value of the mined precious metalsSome prospectors borrowed money thinking they could repay loansThe DangerClimbing MountainsWalking across desertsExcavating 3200 feet below ground

Ghost TownsOnce all the precious metals had been mined, boomtowns were deserted and turned into ghost townsCan you think of industries and cities today, in 2009, that have gone from boom to ghost?