Gold was first discovered near the town of Murray in 1882 after A.J. Prichard and his partners, Markson, Gellatt, and Gerard came to the Coeur d’Alenes from Walla Walla, WA, following Mullan’s Military Road. Their prospecting began near Kellogg, ID, moved to Beaver Cr., and, after they failed to find the rich placer ground on Trail Cr. while en route, continued up Prichard Cr., where their persistence produced a strike. Although A.J. Prichard is credited with the area’s first gold discovery, the actual person and location are unknown. Before the partners disbanded, they swore to keep the discovery secret, but Prichard told certain members of the Liberal League, setting off a rush. During the winter of 1883/84, five thousand miners, prospectors, and camp followers were drawn to the area in search of the rich diggings. The pioneer mining camp of Eagle sprang up overnight but was quickly abandoned in favor of Murray. As the gold rush around Murray faded, prospecting spread to the south fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. In 1996 mining activity shifted to the south side with the discovery of vast silver-lead deposits. Gold production continued, but the boomtown luster was gone. A short-lived gold renaissance occurred from 1918 to 1925, when the Yukon Gold Co. dredged Prichard Cr.