Last Saturday I showed quite a few stage coaches, and mentioned that one line was to Cripple Creek., CO. There may be a few duplications, because I'm posting every photo that talks about Cripple Creek from the site: Western Mining History DOT com.
Cripple Creek is known for having gold mining proscpected in the 1890s.
Stages leaving for Cripple Creek at Florissant CO.
Stage coaches and freight wagons going to Cripple Creek 1890s.
Stagecoach in Cripple Creek CO, ca 1890
Hundley Stage line to Cripple Creek CO
And other places with miners and stage coaches...
Go a few thousand miles north to the Alaska Territory, where gold prospectors stop work for lunch. Yukon Trail in Dyea Valley, 1897
Sharing with Sepia Saturday this week.
Sharing with Sepia Saturday this week.
...and there was a gold rush in North Carolina.
ReplyDeleteI looked it up...it wasn't near me. Oh well...and it was in early 19th century. I'd heard of the one in GA, and even bought some gold earrings in Dahlonega. They were leaves dipped into gold, thus gold leaves~
DeleteLove the photos of the stage coaches. The gold rush must have been really exciting time for these people!
ReplyDeleteTake care, have a great weekend!
It was later than the great California gold rush of 49. I guess people still had hope of "striking it rich." Thanks, and wishes for your weekend to also be most enjoyable.
DeleteHard to fathom that this was just a little over 100 years ago.
ReplyDeleteEspecially when you look at the roads these stage coaches traveled compared to the interstates. I do hope Biden's infrastructure law will repair the bridges!
DeleteBeautiful stage coaches and photos. I always enjoy seeing old photos.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been something, to be riding along as uncomfortable as can be, then stopping for this guy with a camera (probably on tripod and he stuck his head under a curtain in the back...and then they could continue on their way.
DeleteHow uncomfortable those stagecoaches must have been. Still, better than walking, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI would think riding your own horse would be easier somehow, but maybe there wasn't any grazing available for it. I'd not last too long all squeezed together and then bouncing along over many rocks!
DeleteAnd most had their dreams dashed by reality.
ReplyDeleteThat's the way with all gambles...only a very few get rich, and many lose their shirts.
DeleteIn western movies they never picture the stage coaches with passengers riding on top. I wonder why? Your photo selections show that passengers rode both inside and on top.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that too...guess the extras on the movie stage coaches were afraid of falling off.
DeleteI don't envy those riding in the carriages over the rugged terrain.
ReplyDeleteIt really gives a sense of how much "traffic" there was with horses and coaches...
ReplyDeleteLooking at those stage coaches and the narrow roads they traveled - especially in areas where there wasn't much leeway, had me shaking my head. We have some narrow roads around where I live that require turn-outs every now & then so two cars can pass sometimes requiring one car to back up a ways which is tricky enough. But to back a stage coach up? I'm thinking not so easy!
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting collection. From what I have read, riding a stage coach was barely tolerable in flat country with good roads. Since there were no alternatives, other than riding a single horse or walking, people in the mountainous old west had no choice but to hang on to a coach anyway they could. I suppose the horses could only go so far before a change of teams was needed. So that meant more rest stops. Lots of tough logistics to deal with in those days.
ReplyDeleteA fascinating collection of vintage photographs of stagecoaches which look as if they offer their passengers a very bumpy ride, if not precarious for those perched itting on top. Do you know the origins of Cripple Creek's name?
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed so many photos were taken of stage coaches. Today it's hard to imagine traveling that way -- particularly over such bumpy and precarious roads. The first photo blends nicely with your header photo of Black Mountain, NC.
ReplyDelete