Please remember to exercise caution when exploring Nevada's Ghost Towns & Mining Camps. Open shafts, drifts going into mountainsides, and old buildings, are all DANGEROUS. Be aware of your surroundings, and let someone know where you are, especially if your plans change.

Bunker Hill (Victorine)

DIRECTIONS: From Kingston, continue on for 2 miles to Bunker Hill.

"Initial ore discoveries at Bunker Hill were made during the spring of 1863. The three most important mines were the Victorine, the Bi-Metallic, and the Gold Point. The Gold Point, also known as the Iroquois, was located by a Dr. Goodfellow in July 1863. A mining district was organized, but controversy began to cloud ownership of claims in the district. In the spring of 1864, a new mining district, the Bunker Hill, was formed from the Summit and Santa Fe districts by the Smoky Valley Mining and Agricultural Society. The society received the uncomplimentary nickname of "the jumpers" because it relocated claims in the Bunker Hill District that had been challenged by others in the old districts. J. C. Herrin and his mining company gained control of the disputed claims, and the recorder of the Summit District, R. Y. Anderson, filed suit against Herrin, claiming that claims of the Bunker Hill District were not valid. However, it was discovered that Herrin had acquired all the claims legally. It turned out that Anderson and Goodfellow had caused most of the troubles. They had sold the claims, then turned around and tried to negate the sale by filing suit and keeping the money from the sale. The courts saw through the charade, and Herrin was awarded the decision.

In 1864, Herrin and Company built a 20-stamp mill at Kingston that treated ore from the Gold Point Mine. With a mill nearby, exploration around Bunker Hill increased, and new mines opened, including the Brown, Real Del Norte, Phoenician, Stephens, Empire, Morning Star, Jackson and Green, and Mountain Boy. The growth in activity led to the formation of a small camp. Stone cabins were built, but before substantial development could take place, Kingston became the main settlement. After that, Bunker Hill was mainly just the scene of mining activity and had very few permanent inhabitants. In March 1865, the Starr King Mine joined the list of Bunker Hill's producers. The Sterling Silver Mining Company, with T. L. Burton as superintendent, owned the mine, which produced ore valued at $275 per ton. In August 1867 the Bunker Hill Mill (also known as Coover's) began operations, treating ore from the Victorine Mine. The mines were active until the Big Smoky Mill at Kingston closed in 1869. The mines were operated intermittently afterwards, then completely abandoned in 1887. A few stone remains still exist at Bunker Hill, along with mine and mill ruins. The setting is absolutely fantastic, with a wooded campground and a cool, clear creek. Plan to stay a day and night here, if not for the history, at least to enjoy the beauty of the Bunker Hill area."

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