Many a site of former glory is bypassed these days, even by treasure hunters. Ignored, unknown, forgotten, once thriving boom towns have literally bit the dust from one end of this country to the other. Not much remains to indicate the activity that formerly went on in such places. However, rare coins lost from those places of business and areas where folks congregated, various artifacts that were lost or cast aside, and now-valuable odds and ends rest hidden and undisturbed beneath the dust and overgrowth. These are the bare bones of dead ghost towns. Upon these historic lost sites, you seekers of treasure, there are still many relics to be found.


          Relics of the past, unearthed while metal detecting Boom Town sites of Northeastern Washington.

          Rare coins, bottles, square nails, trade tokens, saloon tokens, tools, and all sorts of worthwhile relics remain, right where they fell or were placed, in the remnants of boom towns long dead. Why does a town die? Mining towns die when the ores play out or the price of silver drops. Other towns die even before such events, if a new town in a better location springs up nearby. Ore deposits do not last forever. Gold, silver, copper, lead, or anything else wrenched from the protective earth is of measurable limits.

          If a town’s sole support is the output of a mine, the town is doomed to ultimate desertion from its beginning. Only some new industry, such as farming, agriculture, cattle, or lumber, can save it. When the resource is exhausted, the wages stop, people begin to leave, and the town dies. In time, nature quietly and completely reclaims its own. One thing to remember as a ghost town treasure hunter is that no matter why a town dies, if it was really a going boom town, the site is well worth looking over and checking out. Things were left, things were lost, and those relics from yesteryear are just waiting to be found.

          There are some commonsense dos and don’ts in hunting ghost towns. No matter where you hunt, have permission if it’s required, or know it is not required. If the site you are seeking is on private property, don’t fail to get permission before you begin your search. Don’t hunt in a location if you’re not able to obtain the permission needed to go there. As confusing as they are, attempt to know your state laws concerning treasure hunting and the status of ghost towns in your state. Some states really don’t have any such laws. Don’t leave holes. Fill in everything you dig. If you have to disrupt some sod, do your best to put the clump back so as not to hinder its survival. Don’t vandalize!

          Remember, do your research, find the old ghost town sites, and search them. The coins, bottles, square nails, gold nuggets, tokens, jewelry, and relics from yesteryear are still there. Good luck!