In 1868, the Sweetwater Mines gold rush swept civilization into wilderness. Prospectors and miners swarmed gulches and hilltops in hopes of locating a new El Dorado. South Pass City, Atlantic City, and Miners Delight became local centers of commerce, governance, and social life. Thousands of new residents bolstered the political push to create Wyoming Territory. Soon, many proclaimed the district a humbug and moved on. Those who remained established a fresh existence where potential abounded in every experience. Their efforts ensured that the mines would boom again.
?For the first time, a history of the Sweetwater Mines, from their establishment to the present, is told through photographs from both private and public collections. Many of these images have never been published before. Here, historical records are mingled with accurate oral tradition in a blend of images and information that provides a broad view of South Pass City and the Sweetwater Mines. Jon Lane and Susan Layman are employed at South Pass City State Historic Site, and are members of the Friends of South Pass. Along with their coworkers, neighbors, and boosters of local history, they work to preserve and interpret the story of the Sweetwater Mines for others to learn from and enjoy.