Burke
Burke
The First Mining Town
Discovered in 1884, Burke is just like every other story of a small mining town in the west. After large deposits of lead and silver were found in the hills, the story changed quickly. In 1884 the small town began to gain some traction and its population grew.
Being situated in a narrow canyon, only 300 feet wide at its widest point, the inhabitants had to get creative with the buildings. Take the Tiger Hotel for example. This building had a creek and a railroad going through its lobby! Because of this interesting architecture, the small town of Burke has been featured in “Ripley’s believe it or not” on more than one occasion.
Built in 1896, the Tiger Hotel was one of the most popular places in Burke. With the expansion of the railroad in 1906, the building now had to straddle the railway. Built again, this time with a covered walkway connecting the two, now annexed, sides of the building. One side boasted over 100 rooms, and the other was a kitchen and dining area.
The Tiger Hotel
A Postcard from Burke in 1960
With a steady population of about 2,000 people, the town became a hotspot for miners, and prospectors, but soon that would change. The town started to decline in the later parts of the 20th century, with new EPA restrictions, and lower production of ore. It is said that in 1990 there were less than 15 people left in the small town. Today it has no residents in Burke, officially claiming its title of “Ghost Town”. *Note – this is referring to the city limits of Burke, not Burke Canyon as a whole.
Today, the drive up Burke Canyon is one of the most scenic areas in the whole Silver Valley. Looking out to your left and right you can still see logs and timbers jutting out of the mineral-rich hillsides from the multiple different mills and mines that were once in production.