Thousands of claims were registered and many mines opened and were successfully worked, however Lake of the Woods had to compete with other gold rushes happening in Alaska and The Yukon. Thousands came and many hundreds stayed and established gold mining as an important economic boom at that time to this community. At one time roughly 30 mines were in operation within a radius of 20 miles of the then Kenora. With names such as Sultana, El Diver, King, Black Jack, Home Stake, Keewatin, Rajah Mines, and Three Ladies everyone was trying to fulfill their dreams of that one last big strike. Others farther from Kenora too were to follow which still have meaning today. Mikado, Cedar Island, Cameron Island, and the Combine. Heavy
equipment needed for these mining operations could only be transported
by either rail, water or across the ice, hence the lake was the scene
of great activity.
Even
to this day one can hike into some of these old mining sites, and find
the remains of buildings, and equipment that was or had to be left behind
when the mines either petered out, or were closed due to the cost of getting
the ore out, or the claim ran dry.
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