Lee Vining Canyon Virtual Travel

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Bennettville's Boom and Bust

Opening the Heart
of the Wilderness

The Rush Is On

In 1874, a young shepherd came across a rusty pick and shovel. Next to them
was an old tin can wedged in the rocks. The boy had re-discovered the
"thundering big silver ledge" of Tioga Hill. The hill's rich silver vein drew a
rush of miners and gave rise to the town of Bennettville.

A City of 50,000 People on Tioga Pass?

Bennettville was named for Thomas Bennett, Jr., president
of the Great Sierra Silver Mining Company. Although the
company boasted about the richness of the strike,
Bennettville never reached its dream of becoming a city.
The company spent $300,000 on the mining claim, yet it
returned nothing to its shareholders. Imagine what this area
would be like today if the dreams of those early miners
had panned out.

This sign is found along a route which has been photographed for inclusion in
the UntraveledRoad virtual world. To see and follow the route this sign
is on, click on its image.

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