#174 - Fabulous Florence
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 45° 32.886 W 116° 18.259
11T E 554305 N 5044075
Fabulous Florence sign (#174) on U.S. Hwy. 95 betwee White Bird and Riggins.
Waymark Code: WMAR9X
Location: Idaho, United States
Date Posted: 02/16/2011
Views: 5
Idaho History Marker #174 about the Fabulous Florence at turnout on west side of U.S. Hwy. 95 between White Bird and Riggins. One of two signs at location.
Marker Name: Fabulous Florence
Marker Type: Roadside
Marker Text:
Millions in gold -- mined mostly in one big year -- came from the high mountain basin around Florence 14 airline miles east from here.
Early prospectors, fanning south from Pierce -- Idaho’s first gold camp -- came unexpectedly upon rich ground in August 1861. Their secret leaked, golden rumors started an eager rush that fall, and winter famine followed. Next spring, thousands stampeded to Florence, even from the California mines, but the rich claims soon worked out, and the camp had only 575 men by 1863. Today scarcely a trace of the town remains among scars of the old diggins. Original town vanished; side trip ordinarily impracticable.
County: Idaho
Group Responsible for Placement: State of Idaho
Marker Number: 174
City: Not listed
Date Dedicated: Not listed
Web link(s) for additional information: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
In your log, please say if you learned something new, and if you took any extra time to explore the area once you stopped at the historic marker waymark.
If possible please post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location.
Also if you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Idaho history please include that in your log.