Granite thrived as a silver mining town in the 1890s and is now completely deserted.

[5] In 1872, Eli Holland found a small quantity of high quality ruby silver in the area.

He later traveled to St. Louis to obtain the capital necessary to begin development of the mine.

For the time period, there were many modern amenities, such as the large Miners Union Hall, a library, 18 saloons, brothels, a hospital and school as well as churches.

The Sherman Silver Purchase Act was repealed in 1893, drastically lowering the price of silver, and many residents left Granite, leaving only 140 residents a year later.