The Whitlock Mining District lies on the eastern Mother Lode gold vein and includes the Colorado, Sherlock Creek, and Whiskey Flat areas. Placer and lode mining began there in 1849, and 49ers Lafayette Bunnell, Champlin Spencer, Thomas Whitlock, John Sherlock, and a monte dealer from Quartzburg have all been credited as the sole discoverer of the rich gold deposits. Since the 1850s, more than 70 lode mines have been recorded in the district, including the Buffalo Champion 2, Colorado, Diltz, Geary, Golden Key, King Solomon, Landrum, Nutmeg, Our Chance, Permit, Schroeder, Spread Eagle, and Whitlock, and several operated stamp mills, including a 20 stamp battery at the Whitlock Mine. Post offices opened in the towns of Colorado in 1858 and Whitlock in 1899. In 1932, a mass of specimen gold weighing 52 pounds troy was taken at the Diltz Mine, yielding 43 pounds 2 ounces of gold. Midpines began as a resort lodge in 1926 under Newell Chamberlain, author of The Call of Gold, and he became the community's first postmaster in 1929. The mining towns of Whitlock, Colorado, and Sherlock no longer exist.