CUSTER AND BONANZA

In 1875, while exploring one of Idaho's high mountain valleys W. A. Norton found gold along the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River. The discovery was so rich the town of Bonanza sprung up quickly nearby as miners poured in from all parts of Idaho and beyond.

Just a year later three other prospectors found a vein with even more promise a couple miles upstream. There was a huge exposed body of ore here and it led to several years of litigation over several contested claims. But finally in 1880 the General Custer Mill opened for business. Over the next 25 years the mill produced nearly 10 million dollars in gold.

In 1990 the Custer town site was officially named an Idaho State Park. Since then preservation efforts have saved many buildings. New foundations have been added to important structures and fresh paint protects against the harsh mountain elements. There are even new waterproof roofs to shelter more than a century's worth of history.

And as another part of Custer's preservation state park employees will catalog the mining artifacts and personal effects here. In all that will total between eight and ten thousand items. When it's done the catalog will be a fantastic resource for anyone with a fascination for the past.