Polaris

The southwestern Arizona mining camp of Polaris sprung up in the early 1900s to support the large North Star Mine. By June 1909, the town had its own post office and a peak population of nearly 2,000. The North Star Mine had two primary shafts tracking quarts veins rich in gold ore. The mine operated its own stamp mills to process the ore and used cyanide to extract the gold from the crushed ore. By 1914 the mine had slowed its operations, the town shrank, and the post office was discontinued. Today one lone building stands where the town once was, and the impressive remnants of the mine loom up the mountainside. The mine is on private property, but visitation is allowed. Always be careful around old mines. Look up and to the right of the mine along the ridgeline and see if you can spot the natural arch.