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EspañolFIFTY-NINER
The 'Fifty-Niners' were the estimated 100,000 gold seekers who streamed into the Pike's Peak Country of western Kansas Territory and southwestern Nebraska Territory in 1859. The discovery of placer gold deposits along the South Platte River at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in northwestern Kansas Territory by a party of miners lead by William Greeneberry "Green" Russell in July 1858 precipitated the Pike's Peak Gold Rush.
A route followed by many Fifty-Niners took them west through Kansas Territory, on the "Central Route" up the Kansas River valley. The last significant civilian settlement along this route was Manhattan, Kansas, several hundred miles short of the mountains. Between there and the mountains the Fifty-Niners had to cross the unmarked plains, often getting lost, and sometimes confronting Plains Indians. There is no record of how many prospective miners died en route to Pikes Peak, but the casualties were numerous. Two alternate routes, following parts of the Santa Fe Trail or the Oregon Trail, were longer but proved to be safer.
Among the most famous of the Fifty-Niners were Buffalo Bill Cody and millionaire miner Horace A. W. Tabor (although Tabor didn't make his fortune until the subsequent "Colorado Silver Boom").
No gold was found near Pikes Peak, but it was the first visible landmark for those traveling west across the High Plains. This gave rise to the slogan, "''Pike's Peak or Bust.''"
★ Article on Central Route
A route followed by many Fifty-Niners took them west through Kansas Territory, on the "Central Route" up the Kansas River valley. The last significant civilian settlement along this route was Manhattan, Kansas, several hundred miles short of the mountains. Between there and the mountains the Fifty-Niners had to cross the unmarked plains, often getting lost, and sometimes confronting Plains Indians. There is no record of how many prospective miners died en route to Pikes Peak, but the casualties were numerous. Two alternate routes, following parts of the Santa Fe Trail or the Oregon Trail, were longer but proved to be safer.
Among the most famous of the Fifty-Niners were Buffalo Bill Cody and millionaire miner Horace A. W. Tabor (although Tabor didn't make his fortune until the subsequent "Colorado Silver Boom").
No gold was found near Pikes Peak, but it was the first visible landmark for those traveling west across the High Plains. This gave rise to the slogan, "''Pike's Peak or Bust.''"
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External links
★ Article on Central Route
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