Burke and Gem - Idaho Ghost Town

BURKE and GEM

NAME: Burke and Gem
COUNTY: Shoshone
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 2
CLIMATE: Cool winter and summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime.

COMMENTS: These two towns are very close.
REMAINS: Many ruins.

During its most populous period, Gem had a population of 2,500 around the turn of the century. It was founded in 1886 beside Canyon Creek that flowed between two crowding canyon walls. The area between the canyon walls was so narrow there was scarcely enough room for a single strip of land to accommodate a town. Gem was a town that saw many violent days caused by disputes between the miners and owners. What is left of the town are the remains of mining and milling machinery rusting on the banks of Canyon Creek. 3 miles upstream from Gem is its neighbor that was once twice the size, Burke. Burke is another example of a town that is all length and no width. When its hotel was built, it straddled the railroad tracks and the trains ran through the middle of the hotel. The hotel no longer exists along with many of the old buildings. Burke and Gem flourished as one and vanished as one. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth. Burke Courtesy Rob Vaughn Burke Courtesy Rob Vaughn Burke Courtesy Rob Vaughn	Burke Courtesy Peter Sandell Train accident in Burke Courtesy Peter Sandell Train accident in Burke Courtesy Peter Sandell Train accident in Burke Courtesy Peter Sandell Burke Courtesy Peter Sandell Burke Snowslide Courtesy Peter Sandell Burke Snowslide Courtesy Peter Sandell Old Hotel in Burke Courtesy Bobby Lane Old Hotel in Burke Courtesy Bobby Lane Old Hotel in Burke Courtesy Bobby Lane

During its most populous period, Gem had a population of 2,500 around the turn of the century. It was founded in 1886 beside Canyon Creek that flowed between two crowding canyon walls. The area between the canyon walls was so narrow there was scarcely enough room for a single strip of land to accommodate a town. Gem was a town that saw many violent days caused by disputes between the miners and owners. What is left of the town are the remains of mining and milling machinery rusting on the banks of Canyon Creek. 3 miles upstream from Gem is its neighbor that was once twice the size, Burke. Burke is another example of a town that is all length and no width. When its hotel was built, it straddled the railroad tracks and the trains ran through the middle of the hotel. The hotel no longer exists along with many of the old buildings. Burke and Gem flourished as one and vanished as one. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.