California’s Gold Rush initially occurred in 1848 and lasted at a fevered pitch until 1855. Gold and silver were still to be found after that period, and many prospectors tooled the Sierra Nevada looking for the ore that would change their lives. Tioga Hill became home to these hearty men who lived and moved stone by hand in the 1880s. Tioga Pass at the crest of the Sierra Nevada range saw men come in droves. They brought machinery, livestock, and dreams. They built towns like Dana Village, Bennettvile and worked at places like the Golden Crown Mine.
From the video: “today’s popular Tioga Road was once a simple wagon road built to access the wealth of minerals that were never found.”