The first shots of the Civil War had been fired in the eastern states but in the West, the word that spurred men to action was gold. The precious metal brought thousands rushing to stake claims in Northeast Oregon.

Baker City put down roots during the gold rush of the 1860s. It flowered into the “Queen City of the Mines” during a second mining boom from about 1890 to 1910. By 1900, its population had reached 6,700 — more than that of either Spokane or Boise at the time.

Baker City became a cultural oasis in the emptiness of Eastern Oregon. Restaurants in fine hotels served superb cuisine, orchestras played and the opera house was frequently filled to capacity from road-show productions. Elaborate homes and substantial businesses decorated the landscape.

The city was also open 24 hours a day for those with baser tastes. Gamblers, miners, cowboys and sheepherders crowded the saloons, gambling houses, dance halls and brothels. The 1800 block on the east side of Main Street had five saloons and several brothels. Children and ladies avoided the block, but the Salvation Army band played there nightly, hoping to rescue fallen souls.

Eventually, the golden years faded and Baker City matured to a quieter, more stable community. But its streets and buildings still echo with the robust heritage of the American West. Walk through the Historic District and sense that heritage