![]() ![]() The buckets, moving like the chain of a chainsaw, would bore into the riverbank and carry the loose rock back into the dredge interior. Sticking out from the dredge's hull is a massive boom bearing 72 one-ton buckets. It's hard to believe all that bulk actually floated on its own small pond, but that's exactly how the dredge moved from place to place-digging into the soil in a sideways pattern creating a constant pool of water that came from the Powder River. Built at a cost of $350,000 in 1935, it produced $4.5 million in gold until 1954 (gold was then $35 an ounce), and was actually the third dredge to be used during that time period. Not many gold dredges are still on public display, so it's fortunate this is one of the largest and most accessible in the country. An annual flea market each Labor Day weekend brings in thousands of tourists.Īt the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area located on the edge of town, step aboard the massive 1,240 ton YUBA style dredge. The sparse year-round population is less than 200 souls, but you'll find RV parks, restaurants, a country store and a gift shop to meet your needs. The former Queen City is not completely deserted today, though. Mining operations ceased, folks moved on to find other jobs, and Sumpter eventually became a ghost town. Finally in 1954, when expenses outweighed profits, the clattering of the dredge buckets was forever silenced. ![]() The mines began to lose yield after 20 years or so, but then dredging commenced in 1913 and the townspeople prospered once again- altogether recovering over $10 million in gold. By the early 1900s, numerous hard-rock mines were in operation and over 80 businesses served a population of about 3,000. With the discovery of gold, the town of Sumpter got its start. Bring your own gold pan or detector and try your luck-just be careful not to trespass on posted claims. Although many private and federal mining claims still exist today, don't let that stop you from finding a fortune (or at least have fun trying) around the Sumpter area. To get a sense of this area's rich history, visit the Queen City of Sumpter today. When prospectors first discovered gold near Oregon's Powder River in 1862, the gold rush of eastern Oregon was on! In fact, over 10,000 mining claims were filed in Baker County during Oregon's gold rush, and boomtowns like Sumpter sprang up almost instantly. ![]()
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