Empire Chief Mine and Mill - Lake City, CO - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

The history of the Bonanza Chief Empirwe Mine and Mill mirrors the stories told of fleeing fortunes throughout the San Juan Mountains. The intial discovery of the Bonanza Lode was made on July 4, 1885. Little work was completed on the claim until 1901, when the Hensen creek Lead Mines Company issued $1,500,000 in Capital Stock and began to construct a three-story concentration mill.

Over the next few years, little underground work was performed, yet above ground facilities were developed including an electricalpower plant, a boarding house and a black smith shop. At the same time, bonds were issued to raise funds to cover debts incurred at the mine. In 1906, over 3,700 feet of drills were driven into the mountain as miners followed promising veins of ore that contained galena, zinc,silver and gold. Unfortunately, as was often the case in hard rock mining, the promise was short lived and the mine once again shut down in 1907.

The Bonnanza/Empire Chief received a brief revival in the 1920's when the mill was retooled; however, little ore of high quality was produced. In 1929, the Empire Chief Mill was once again rebuilt. With low ore values, rising coal prices, legal battles, transportation problems, the beginning of the Great depression, and a devastating avalanche, the mine was forsced to close. The Bonanza/Empire Chief and Mill was eventually liquidated in a series of Sheriff's Sales.

**The above information if from the Panel at the site of the Bonanza Empire Chief Mine and Mill.**

Architect, builder, or engineer: R.E.L. Townsend, Hensen Creek Lead Mines

Street address: Lake City, CO United States County / Borough / Parish: Hinsdale County Year listed: 1999 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Information Potential, Event, Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1925-1949, 1900-1924 Historic function: Industry/Processing/Extraction Current function: Vacant/Not In Use Privately owned?: yes Season start / Season finish: From: 05/01/2014 To: 09/30/2014 Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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