Congress
Congress was built around one of Arizona's most productive gold mines, which produced over $8 millio
State: Arizona
County: Yavapai County
Founded: 1884 (gold discovery)
Congress was built around one of Arizona's most productive gold mines, which produced over $8 million in gold. President William McKinley visited in 1900. The town was divided into 'Mill Town' (company facilities) and 'Lower Town' (saloons and stores). Both fires and water scarcity challenged the community before the mines played out.
Timeline
- 1884 - Gold Discovery Dennis May discovered gold-bearing quartz that would launch the Congress Mine.
- 1887 - 'Diamond' Jim Reynolds Reynolds purchased the claim and established the Congress Mine, setting the stage for the town's growth.
- 1891 - Early Production Over $600,000 worth of gold had already been extracted.
- 1893 - Railroad Connection The Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix railroad reached Congress Junction, three miles from the mine. A post office opened in the growing town.
- Peak Years - Two Towns in One Congress was divided into 'Mill Town' (near the mine with company facilities, hospital, and employee housing) and 'Lower Town' (saloons, churches, restaurants, and stores). Lower Town had no water source and relied on Mill Town.
- 1898, 1900 - Fires Fires destroyed buildings in Lower Town. With limited water, little could be done to fight them.
- 1900 - Presidential Visit President William McKinley visited Congress, testament to the mine's national importance. The mine employed 425 men.
- Mid-1930s - Decline Extraction became more challenging and ore quality dropped. Economic viability diminished.
- 1938 - Post Office Moves The post office closed and moved to Congress Junction, marking the end of the mining town.
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Fall through spring
Difficulty: Easy - accessible area
Time Needed: 1-2 hours for ruins
Tips
- Little remains besides scattered ruins and foundations
- Partial foundations of stamp mill visible
- Rusting mining equipment marks the site
- Congress Pioneer Cemetery is accessible
- Modern Congress is actually old Congress Junction
Quick Facts
- President William McKinley visited the Congress Mine in 1900
- The mine employed 425 men at its peak
- Lower Town had no water—residents hauled it from Mill Town
- Over $8 million in gold was extracted
- Today's Congress is actually the old Congress Junction—the original mining town is a ghost town
Location
Address: Northwest of Phoenix, Yavapai County
Coordinates: 34.1611, -112.85