In July 1858, "good diggings" were discovered on Big Dry Creek..
THIS IS THE AREA OF ONE OF THOSE PLACER OPERATIONS…………
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Big Dry Creek Placer
In February 1858 the William Greenberry Russell and Sam Bates Party followed the Arkansas River in present-day Oklahoma westward along the Santa Fe Trail until they reached Bent’s Fort. They traveled northwest, reaching the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River on May 23. The site of their initial explorations is in present-day Confluence Park in Denver. They began prospecting in the river beds, exploring Cherry Creek and other nearby Creeks.
In July 1858, they discovered "good diggings" at the mouth of Big Dry Creek on the South Platte, panning out several hundred dollars of gold dust from a small pocket. They followed the Gold up Big Dry Creek setting up Placer operations along the way.
THIS IS THE AREA OF ONE OF THOSE PLACER OPERATIONS…………
When word got back east, the Colorado Gold Rush was on; Pikes Peak or Bust! Was the slogan. By 1859, large numbers of prospective miners and settlers had come up valley to the Denver area. At first, there was only the slight showing in Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, but soon paying quantities of gold were discovered at Idaho Springs and Central City. By 1860, Central City had a population of 60,000 people and Denver and Golden were substantial towns serving the mines.
Placer mining is the mining of stream bed deposits for GOLD. Gold Pans and Sluce Boxes and Rockers were the easiest means of Striking It Rich.
Big Dry Creek Placer
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