Mines of the San Gabriels

When one thinks of gold mining such places as the Mother Lode and Death Valley come to mind. Yet in the San Gabriel Range, located just to the northeast of the city of Los Angeles, occurred the first recorded gold strike in the state of California, four years before John Marshall found nuggets in the millrace at Coloma in northern California. Even today, Los Angeles County ranks among the top gold producers in the state, all of which comes from the San Gabriel.

Many of these old mines, such as the Red Rover and the Governor, are within sight of our freeways. Others may be reached by short walks or hikes, such as Placerita Canyon and the Big Horn. In Mines Of The San Gabriels author John Robinson describes the various districts, such as the San Fernando and the Santa Anita placers, the gold mines of the Soledad region and Lytle Creek, as well as the lode mines on the upper San Gabriel River and on the slopes of Mt. Baldy.

While gold mining is no longer one of Los Angeles' major industries, many still putter around these gold-bearing rivers, doing "recreational mining," while many others just like to explore the ruins and traces of those olden days. Contents include: Introduction, San Fernando Placers, Soledad Mines, Bib and Little Pasadena, Santa Anita Placers, San Gabriel River, Big Horn et al, Baldy Mines, Lytle Creek, Bibliography and Index.