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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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117 results for: Mining

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Image of Gold miners at Spruce Creek, circa 1898
Photograph

Gold miners at Spruce Creek, circa 1898

Much of the gold in the Klondike region ranged from the size of cornmeal to that of whole grains of corn. Much larger nuggets were sometimes found.This photo of miners and sluices on claim West 126 at Spruce Creek was probably taken sometime between 1897 and 1900. One of the men holds a large object, which may be the 83…
ID Number:SHS11963
Date:Circa 1898
Image of Miners at work on banks of Pine Creek, circa 1899
Photograph

Miners at work on banks of Pine Creek, circa 1899

Between 1897 and 1900, small groups of miners staked claims along many of the Yukon region's small creeks looking for gold.This photo shows a miners' camp on Pine Creek, probably in the Yukon Territory. Tents and a shelter line the edge of the creek where a group of men are working with a sluice and a rocker. Judging by the…
ID Number:SHS11972
Date:Circa 1899
Image of Underground mining at Gold Hill, circa 1898
Photograph

Underground mining at Gold Hill, circa 1898

In Alaska and the Yukon, placer gold was found along ancient stream beds, some of which were twelve to forty feet underground at bedrock. The gold was frozen in the dirt or gravel. Miners chopped away at the frozen earth with picks or tried to thaw it with fires or steam machines. They "drifted" all winter, digging in the direction…
ID Number:SHS12491
Date:1900
Image of Laundry woman during gold rush, circa 1902
Photograph

Laundry woman during gold rush, circa 1902

While some women traveled to the gold fields with their husbands, others made the trip on their own. Women worked on mining claims, taught school, or set up businesses of their own. They did laundry, cooked meals, ran hotels and dance halls, and otherwise provided services to others in the community.This photo shows an African American woman at her laundry…
ID Number:SHS12965
Date:Circa 1902
Photograph

Portrait of Chin Yook-Nui, Seattle, circa 1925

This photograph shows Chin Yook-Nui (circa 1865-1946), the wife of prominent Chinese-American community leader, diplomat, and businessperson Goon Dip (circa 1862 -1933). Chin and Goon married in China in the late 1870s. At that time, Goon had previously lived in Portland, Oregon but returned to China for a few years. He moved back to Portland some time before 1882. Some…
ID Number:SHS15758
Date:Circa 1925
Image of Four men digging tunnel in gold mine at Eldorado, circa 1898
Photograph

Four men digging tunnel in gold mine at Eldorado, circa 1898

In Alaska and the Yukon, placer gold was found along ancient stream beds, some of which were twelve to forty feet underground at bedrock. The gold was frozen in the dirt or gravel. Miners chopped away at the frozen earth with picks or tried to thaw it with fires or steam machines. They "drifted" all winter, digging tunnels in the…
ID Number:SHS15820
Date:Circa 1898
Image of Men using rockers to pan for gold, circa 1898
Photograph

Men using rockers to pan for gold, circa 1898

Many gold miners used rockers (also called cradles) to remove gold from pay dirt. They shoveled the dirt and gravel into a tray at the top of the rocker, and they moved the rocker back and forth as they poured water through the tray. Finer pieces of gold and dirt washed through holes in the tray into the box beneath.…
ID Number:SHS16719
Date:Circa 1898
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