Cave Junction, Mining heritage city in Southern Oregon, United States.
Cave Junction is a small city in southern Oregon that sits at a crossroads where Redwood Highway meets Caves Highway, nestled in the Siskiyou Mountains at 480 meters elevation. The town serves as a hub for exploring the region's natural features and mining heritage.
The area's development began in the 1850s when gold was discovered near Waldo by sailors who had deserted their ship in Crescent City. This find triggered settlement and mining activity that shaped the region's economy for decades.
The Takelma people shaped life in this valley for centuries before outsiders arrived. Their legacy remains visible in local place names and the stories woven into the region's identity.
A visitor center operated by the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce provides local information and help with planning activities in the area. Visitors can stop here to learn about hiking trails, caves, and other outdoor attractions nearby.
The Illinois Valley near here was where Oregon's first gold was found, and it also produced the state's largest gold nugget at 7.7 kilograms. These exceptional finds made the region a significant chapter in early American gold mining history.
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