When I was a young boy, my father and I regularly came to this area to fish, hunt, and camp, and to explore ghost towns and mining camps. Ever since those early years of my childhood, the beauty and tranquility of this country have inspired me. When the history of this country caught my interests, I began to explore further and to research its miners, prospectors, pioneers, Native Americans, and old ghost towns in greater depth.

I talked to local folks from around my hometown of Winthrop—some of whom had been pioneers in their younger days or were descendants of this region’s pioneers—as well as to volunteers from local historical museums in the surrounding areas. Everyone that I talked to was very knowledgeable and helpful and enjoyed sharing old stories. I searched through historical archives, read many books and old newspaper articles, and looked at hundreds of historic photos during my many years of research.

Then, I struck out to explore and locate these relics from the past. Places like Ruby City, Loup Loup City, the Montana Mine and Mill, the Crescent Copper Mine, the Red Shirt Mine, the lost Ruby City Cemetery, the mysterious “China Wall,” the Fourth of July Mine, the Alder Mine, the First Thought Mine, and the Arlington Mine on Ruby Hill. Places like the lost mining camps of Okanogan City and Gold Hill. Over a century ago, many of these mines produced millions of dollars in gold and silver ore, as other miners and prospectors continued to search the hills and mountains for their “glory holes.”

Part of the mysterious “China Wall.” This wall is the largest of a group of ten walls and measures 80 feet in length and 27 feet high.
(Click on the picture to visit the "China Wall")

So if you’re not looking to strike it rich but would like to revisit those colorful boom-town days of yesteryear and relive some of Washington’s history, excitement is just waiting for you where the land stretches out wild and free in historic Northeastern Washington State. For those of you whose history goes back far enough, I hope our website rekindles some of your memories.

Happy Trails!
Jerry Smith

If you are a student developing a report for school I'm certain that you will find this site to be a wealth of information of both the past and the present of Northeastern Washington. In the end you may find yourself as captivated by this part of the state as I did as a young boy. To make your report writing easier we have developed a Ghost Town Report Outline, Click here!. Send us a copy of your report and we'll post it on the website for the world to see!

A Final Note:

Without history, there would be no heritage, and only by gathering the fading old memories of yesteryear and handing them down from generation to generation can we preserve it. A generation that ignores history has no past and no future.

I encourage descendants of our late Native American and pioneer families who may have historic photos or recollections for other history buffs to enjoy and learn from to contact me and make them available for future publication. I feel that each story deserves to be told and recorded.

Thanks for visiting, and come again soon! Jerry Smith, and Boom Towns & Relic team of experts, Laurie, Cody, Sharon, Jim and Lynda

Don't be a stranger, sign my guestbook before you leave!

Jerry Smith, looking to lasso another wild west ghost town adventure

(L-R) Jim Sr. and Jim Jr. exploring the remains of the historic First Thought Mine on Ruby Hill.

Boom Towns and Relic Hunters is dedicated to my father and best friend Lloyd E. Smith, 1921-1996, who enjoyed exploring the hills and valleys of Okanogan County. To our mother and grandmother, Fern Adele Pfeiffer, who has contributed so much love for her family and friends. We love you!