Lost Blue Bucket Mine

The Lost Blue Bucket Mine is a lost mine reputed to be located along the Meek Wagon Train trail between the present day cities of Vale and The Dalles in Oregon, United States.

Its discovery traces back to 1845, several years before the start of the California Gold Rush (1848–1855).

Three young men (or boys, or a single girl — accounts vary) went to fetch water, and while doing so put some shiny rocks into a blue bucket.

Another version holds that when the Stephen Meek Wagon train stopped along the trail in present-day Crook County near Bear Creek, children went to gather water at some distance from the camp.

[3] The legend sparked a gold rush to the area of modern-day Baker City, Oregon.

The John Day River passing by Sheep Rock in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument ; the mine is thought to be near the John Day River
A drawing of a pioneer covered wagon
The watershed of Oregon's John Day River
The watershed of Oregon's Crooked River