Mines of the San Bernardinos

When we think of the San Bernardino mountainside, most of us think of Arrowhead and Big Bear lakes, of the Rim of the World Highway and the ski resorts. Little do we know that just off the highway lie remains of a gold rush that started shortly after the famous rush of the '49ers in northern California. It was in 1860 that 'Uncle Billy' Holcomb wandered over a ridge to start the largest gold rush in the southern regions of the Golden State, a rush that is still celebrated by a festival each year at Big Bear.

In Mines Of The San Bernardinos author John Robinson tells of this and the many other strikes that led to the opening of this high wooded area. Here are stories of Uncle Billy, as well as the more recent ones of such as Lucky Baldwin's, who built large gold mills at Doble, the remains of which are still to be seen above the shore of the lake that now bears his name.