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In 1860, a miner named Birch was sifting some gravel in nearby Bear Creek and found some gold nuggets. A town sprang up nearby, named Birchville. In the early days, there was always a problem with Apache Indian attacks in the area. There was no military fort in the area to protect the miners. In the 1860's, a treaty was signed with the Indians. To celebrate the reduced tensions, the townspeople invited the Apaches for a big dinner. Nerly sixty came to the camp unarmed. As soon as they were seated, the host opened fire, killing most and maiming others. After this, Indians killed many miners. A fort was set up nearby in 1869, to help protect from indian attacks. Finally, the town and the mines prospered. By the 1880's and 1890's, the population stood at 9,000. At some point, the town changed its name to Pinos Altos, or tall pines in Spanish. The museum in Pinos Altos is a must see attraction. |
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