Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Gold and silver have long been associated with America’s most notorious desert region called Death Valley. While today most think of Death Valley National Park as a place of natural beauty and scenic wonders it was once thought to be hiding a treasure trove of riches. Why else would it have such a fearsome name? Why would its early reputation be so deadly, dangerous and terrifying? It was once rumored to have vaporous gases so toxic that birds flying overhead would drop dead instantly. It was called “the haunt of all that is grim and ghoulish” by one New York newspaper. So surely it must be full of wondrous wealth. All that needed to be done to gain that wealth was slay the dragon of danger at Death Valley’s gate! That’s what thousands of would-be prospectors, miners, promoters and others did over the years. While Death Valley’s “Gold Rush” was short-lived, it was frenetic, dramatic and intense. The barren and empty landscape which visitors encounter today was once crawling with prospectors and their burros who chose Death Valley as the place where they’d stake their claim to riches beyond measure. This is the story of the Death Valley Gold Rush.
Ted Faye is a documentary filmmaker, exhibit curator and historical researcher on stories and people of the Death Valley region. Ted has worked with tourism boards on both the state and local levels to develop materials that tell the stories of their communities. Ted was historian at US Borax and many images from this book are from the Borax collection at Death Valley National Park.
Gold and silver have long been associated with America’s most notorious desert region called Death Valley. While today most think of Death Valley National Park as a place of natural beauty and scenic wonders it was once thought to be hiding a treasure trove of riches. Why else would it have such a fearsome name? Why would its early reputation be so deadly, dangerous and terrifying? It was once rumored to have vaporous gases so toxic that birds flying overhead would drop dead instantly. It was called “the haunt of all that is grim and ghoulish” by one New York newspaper. So surely it must be full of wondrous wealth. All that needed to be done to gain that wealth was slay the dragon of danger at Death Valley’s gate! That’s what thousands of would-be prospectors, miners, promoters and others did over the years. While Death Valley’s “Gold Rush” was short-lived, it was frenetic, dramatic and intense. The barren and empty landscape which visitors encounter today was once crawling with prospectors and their burros who chose Death Valley as the place where they’d stake their claim to riches beyond measure. This is the story of the Death Valley Gold Rush.
Ted Faye is a documentary filmmaker, exhibit curator and historical researcher on stories and people of the Death Valley region. Ted has worked with tourism boards on both the state and local levels to develop materials that tell the stories of their communities. Ted was historian at US Borax and many images from this book are from the Borax collection at Death Valley National Park.