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1799

Conrad Reed discover a 17 pound gold nugget in a creek in nearby Cabarrus County, NC.

1805

Elias Boudinot, Director of The U.S. Mint, informs Thomas Jefferson of the considerable amount of gold in North Carolina.

1805-1828 

All domestic gold that is coined by the U.S., comes from N.C.

1825

Samuel McComb opens the McComb Mine on his farm (near present-day Panthers/Bank of America Stadium).  It was later renamed the Old Charlotte Mine and finally St. Catherines Mine.

1825

Charlotte's first newspaper, The Catawba Journal was established.

1826

Absolom Holbrook found gold on Rudisill Lode, later changed to Rudisill Mine.

1828

Samuel McComb sells his interest in Charlotte Mine to Humphrey Bissell.

1829

Don Vincenzo de Riva Finoli, a Milanese Count arrives in Charlotte.  Count Riva Finoli; along with over 50 European miners, purchased the leases and manages the Rudisill Mine and the St. Catherine's mines, under Mecklenburg Gold Mining Company.  Count Riva Finoli builds a large mansion at the northwest corner intersection of Morehead and South Tryon Streets.  

1830

Miners and Farmers Journal, begins publication in Charlotte.

1830

Bank of New Bern is established in Charlotte.

1832

The Bechler Mint; in Rutherfordton NC., issues the United States very first Gold $1.00 coins.

1833

Officials meet to discuss the possibility of obtaining a railroad in Charlotte.

1834

Bank of North Carolina established in Charlotte.

1835

U.S. Congress approves 3 Mint Branches.  Charlotte, NC/ Dahlonega, GA/ and New Orleans, LA.  President Andrew Jacksonsigns this into law.

1837

The mines shut down during the depression of 1836 - 1837.  Count Riva Finoli leaves Charlotte, for New York.

1837

Through foreclosure proceedings, Captain Charles Wilkes; U.S. Navy, obtains possession of St. Catherines mine.

1837

Charlotte Mint opens.  The first U.S. coin minted outside of Philadelphia, PA in $2.50 and $5.00 denominations.

1837

John E. Penman acquires the Rudisill Gold Mine.

1840-1865

Production of gold helps to sustain the economy in Mecklenburg County, through the end of the Civil War.

1845

John E. Penman gives up his mining ventures and becomes a Methodist minister.

1845-1854

The Rudisill mine is only worked near the surface, by local miners.

1849

A contract was established for a railroad connecting Charlotte with Columbia, SC.

1849

Gold is discovered in California.  Many Carolina miners move out west.

1849

Production of the first $1.00 coin starts, at the Charlotte Mint.

1852

The Bechtler Mint closes.

1852

The Charlotte railroad connects to Columbia, SC.

1853

The Bank of Charlotte is established.

1854

The Rudisill property is sold to Rudisill Gold and Copper Company, a New York firm.

1856

The railroad connects Charlotte to Salisbury, NC.

1860 

The Rudisill property is sold to Rudisill Gold Mining Company of Baltimore, MD.

1861

The U.S. Mint in Charlotte is seized and coin production is halted.  The Mint is used as a military headquarters and later converted into a hospital.  The Charlotte Mint had issued over $5 million dollars in gold coins.

1865-1870

Northern capitalists, reopen the gold mines.

1865

John Wilkes; son of Charles Wilkes, organized The First National Bank of Charlotte.

1867

The Charlotte Mint is reopened by the U.S. Government as an 'assay' office.  Charlotte is home to three banks.

1869

The Daily Carolina Observer (later to become The Charlotte Observer) starts publication.

1878

The Rudisill Mine is sold to James H. Carson, Robert Miller, and John W. Wadsworth.  Miller later helped found The Union National Bank of Charlotte    (which later becomes First Union National Bank of Charlotte).

1879

Carson, Miller, and Wadsworth sell the Rudisill property to Rudisill Gold Mining Company of Hartford, CT.  Rudisill workings are greatly expanded and the main shaft is extended to 300 feet.

1882

After a public auction, Rudisill is sold back to Carson, Miller, and Wadsworth.  The main shaft is extended to 350 feet.

1882

The St. Catherines Mine; owned by John Wilkes, employs 30 men.  The shaft is extended to 370 feet.

1887

The St. Catherines mining activity is suspended and there is very little activity at the Rudisill Mine.

1891-1938

An electric street car service is established and runs through Dilworth and Wilmore.

1901

Thomas Edison comes to Charlotte to investigate using electricity to help miners extract gold.  Mr. Edison sets up shop in the basement                                 of the U.S. Mint building.

1905

The Carson, Miller, and Wadsworth heirs sell the Rudisill property to the St. Catherine-Rudisill Gold Mining Company of New York City, NY.  The Mines are managed by George E. Price, a mining engineer with South African experience.

1908

St. Catherine-Rudisill Gold Mining Company defaults.  Rudisill Mine is then purchased by Robert C. Carson, Charles F. Wadsworth (descendents of the original owners) and Robert M. Miller. Within a few years, the Carson Family obtains the sole rights of The Rudisill Gold Mine.

1908

St. Catherines mine closes for good.

1917-1919

The Charlotte Mint houses the Charlotte Women's Club and The Red Cross, during World War I

1931

The Charlotte Mint is slated to be demolished and a group of private citizens acquire the structure, from the U.S. Treasury Department, in 1933

1934

The Rudisill Mine Inc., leases the Rudisill property form J.H. Carson.  The Rudisill Mine reopens to help unemployed skilled men, during the depression.

1935-1937

The Rudisill Mine is the largest producer of gold in NC.

1936

The Charlotte Mint is relocated to South Charlotte and opened as the Mint Museum of Art, the first museum of art in North Carolina.

1938

The Rudisill Mine ceases gold mining operations for good.

1956

The establishment of Charlotte - Mecklenburg zoning.

1981-1988

Interstate 277 (Brookshire Freeway and John Belk Freeway) is completed between Uptown Charlotte and the Historical Gold Mining area.

1994

South End is established.  Revitalization of historical industrial buildings begin and they are turned into a mixed use district, focusing on Art and design.

2004

Trolley service is reestablished between South End and Uptown Charlotte.

2006

The South End Municipal Service District is established.

2007

LYNX Lightrail service is established.  The first rail line runs from PIneville to Uptown Charlotte, with two stops in the vicinity of the historical gold mines.

2014

The Gold District is established.

2015 - Present

Let the journey continue....

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