Spencer Boiler

Discarded boiler from hopeful mining prospects.

NPS/ Amanda Rich

Quick Facts

Location:

Lees Ferry, AZ

Significance:

Historic River Trail

Amenities

1 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Steam engine to pump water for Charles H. Spencer’s mining experiments

Erected 1910

In his first attempt to extract gold Spencer set up a pipe dredge across the river. The boiler produced stem that ran engines to pump water and air down a pipe to the ground. Theoretically it would force stand and gold up through a casing. Unfortunately for Spencer, the pipe only went down a few feet before hitting rock. The experiment failed.