Pinos Altos

On May 18, 1860, three prospectors camped on Bear Creek, and Thomas Birch, going for water, found small nuggets in the stream. The camp was first called Birchville, and by September 700 men were working the gulches. In late September 1861 some 400 Chiricahua under Mangas Coloradas and his son-in-law Cochise attacked the camp to drive the miners from their homeland; Roy Bean, who ran a store there with his brother, left for Texas afterward. With the Civil War draining its men, the camp was briefly abandoned. Gold from the Hearst mines here helped decorate Hearst Castle.

What the plaque says

Official Scenic Historic Marker Pinos Altos Once the seat of Grant County, Pinos Altos, survived conflicts with the Apache. A gold discovery in 1860 by three 49ers from California stimulated a boom that led to the establishment of this mining camp which produced over $8,000,000 of gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc before the mines played out in the 20th century.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Santa Rita Copper Mine — 11 mi
  The copper pit east of Silver City that swallowed the town it was named for, beneath a spire of volcanic rock long said to look like a nun at prayer.
• City of Rocks State Park — 23 mi
  Pinnacles of volcanic tuff up to forty feet high standing in the grassland between Deming and Silver City, worn out of an eruption 34.9 million years ago.

More markers nearby

• Old Silver City Cemetery — 5.5 mi
• Silver City — 6.5 mi
• Fort Bayard - 1866-1900 / Fort Bayard National Cemetery — 6.7 mi
• Santa Rita Copper Mines — 6.8 mi