One of Mineral County’s first industries was gold mining, but placer and hard-rock miners quickly branched out from one precious mineral into others: operators large and small looked for zinc, silver, copper, quartz, and lead. Timber investors set up sawmills and lumber yards to harvest the forests. Access to trails and recreation spaces gave rise to a bustling tourism industry.
Lieutenant (later Captain) John Mullan, who created the first military road in the Northwest, from 1859-1860.