From the small time miner to the large companies, the mining towns of yore are mostly long gone, though there are still a few places one can pan for gold as a tourist these days. From the sluicing ramps to the guarded wagons full of gold, these images capture a time lost to the decades.

Weighing the gold, 1902. Via/ Library of Congress
From original caption: “Gold mined in one day.” Alaska, 1915. Via/ Library of Congress
Guarded wagon carrying gold to the bank from the Deadwood mines, South Dakota, 1890. Via/ Library of Congress
3 gold miners at work, 1898. Via/ Library of Congress
Gold miner in 1916, Alaska. Via/ Library of Congress

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