Many a site of former glory is bypassed these days, even by treasure hunters. Ignored, unknown, forgotten, once thriving Boom Towns have literally bit the dust from one end of this country to the other. Not much remains to show the activity that formerly went on in such places. Rare coins lost from those places of business and areas where folks congregated, however, the artifacts lost or cast aside, and now valuable odds and ends rest hidden and undisturbed beneath the dust and overgrowth that conceal whatever was left of those glory days. These are the bare bones of dead ghost towns. Upon these long ago lost sites, you seekers of treasure, there is still many a good portion of relics.

          It has to be researched out, but these remains are still there. Rare coins, trade tokens, saloon tokens, tools, and all sorts of worthwhile relics remain, right where they fell or were placed, in the bare bones remants of Boom Towns long dead.


          Relics of the past, unearthed while metal detecting Boom Town sites of Northeastern Washington.

          Why does a town die? For many reasons, to many to make a simple detailed list of. Mining towns die when the ores play out or the price of silver dropped. Other towns even die before this if a new town in a better location springs up nearby. Ore deposits do not last forever. Gold, silver, copper or anything else wrenched from the protective earth is of measurable limits. If a towns sole support is the output of a mine, the town was doomed to ultimate desertion. It can be saved only by some new industry, farming, agriculture, cattle, lumber or anything else can be the one mainstay of a community, a town started because of, and entirely dependent upon a single product. When the resource is exhausted the wages stop, people begin to leave, and the town dies. In time, nature quietly, completely reclaims its own.

          Many a daydream of would-be town promoters turned into pocket-emptying nightmares for themselves and others. A few buildings went up perhaps, to be soon abandoned and reclaimed by an uncaring nature.

          One thing to remember, as a ghost town treasure hunter, is that simply because a town dies, no matter what the reason, if it was really a going Boom Town, the site is well worth looking over. Things were left, things were lost, and those relics from yesteryear are just waiting to be found.

          There are some common sense do’s and don’ts in hunting ghost towns. No matter where you hunt, have permission if it’s required, or know it is not required. If it is on private property, don’t fail to get an OK before you begin your search if possible, if permission is not possible, don’t hunt it. As confusing as they are, attempt to know your state laws concerning treasure hunting and the status of ghost towns in your state. Some states really don’t have any such laws.

          Don’t leave holes. Fill in everything you dig. If you have to disrupt some sod, do your best to put the clump back so as not to retard its survival. Don’t vandalize.

          Remember, do your research, find the old ghost town sites, and search them. The coins, tokens, jewelry, and relics from yesteryear are still there. Good luck!