A Photographic History

 

 

Elk City was originally established as a mining town in 1861.  The Nez Perce Indian Trail (used by Lewis & Clark during their expedition to the Pacific) passes near the town.  The entire north central area of Idaho was dominated by gold mining, with some of the strikes rivaling the famous California strike of '49.  Miners swarmed the area and non-existent towns sprouted up and soon had populations of 1,000's.  Placer (running water sediments from a  river through a sluice box - similar to panning) and hard-rock (tunneling into the mountain, following a vein) mining were the methods used.  The first miners were white and as the easy gold vanished, they moved on to other strikes.  The Chinese then came to the area, and being a little more ingenious with their mining methods, were able to reap additional benefits in a second "strike".  Most their gold went home to China.  Before long rumors of their success brought white miners back to the area and the Chinese were driven out.  In short order the mines once again ran dry and everyone left, except for a few hundred souls who could not resist the peace and beauty of the area.  During it's heyday, Elk City was the center for local trade, entertainment, and the like.  The yearly horse races, an occasional stage robbery or murder, and town dance, occasionally punctuated what was otherwise a simple, but difficult life . . . in the backwoods of Idaho.

 

Please be patient - this page contains many photos and may take a while to download, depending on the speed of your server.  They are certainly worth the wait.

 

 

 

People

  

 

James Berryman, among the first miners in the area.

 

                            

                          

                       

         Elk City Old Timers, circa 1938                        

                                                                                                            Miners, circa early 1900's 

                                                                                                              George Esh, Alva Fields

 

 

 

Newsome Station, circa 1890's
 

Elk City Women, circa 1900's - all worked at the Elk Hotel
 

Elk City School Kids, circa 1917

 

Charlie Wang Gee, circa 1920's - local miner, cook, all around handyman.

 

 

 

Places

 

Elk City, circa 1912

Elk City, circa 1908

Elk City, circa 1909 - the earliest building from historic Elk City still standing.

Elk City, circa 1906

 

Orogrande, circa 1930's

 

Dixie, circa 1909

The name says it all.

 

Red River Ranger Station, circa 1921 - the area's first ranger station.

Red River Hot springs, circa early 1900's - still a local attraction.

 

A Tight Pass - Elk City Wagon Road

Stage, circa early 1900's - Elk City Wagon Road

Switchback Station, circa 1900 - on the Elk City Wagon Road

Newsome Station, circa early 1900's - another stage stop on the Elk City Wagon Road

 

Hump Town, circa late 1890's

Orogrande-Frisco Mine & Mill

 

We hope you enjoyed this sampling of our history.

 

If you have any personal knowledge of the area, please be sure to contact Jamie Edmondson, president of the local Historical Society.  If you are in town, top by the Elk City Hotel and view the hundreds of photos and hear a more detailed history from Jamie.

 

 

Elk City Hotel & Gift Shop  

 

289 Main Street

HC 1 Box 3

Elk City, Idaho 83525

Phone: 208-842-2452  Fax: 208-842-2757

1-877-208-5336 (toll free)

Email: elkcityhotel@camasnet.com