DescriptionGold prospectors began placer mining near the mouth of the Vermilion River in 1867, resulting in the brief emergence of a mining camp. The camp was short-lived, however, and the origin of the river’s name remains unknown, though it might relate to the red color of the rock along the river. The Vermillion Mine, spelled with 2 l’s, operated sporadically from the 1890s to the 1940s, primarily as a silver-lead property under a variety of owners and lessees, before closing. A post office served the area from 1889 to 1905. About 13 miles up the river is Vermilion Falls, which cascades down through a narrow gorge in the Cabinet Mountains. Also in the area are Vermilion Peak and Vermilion Pass, as was, for a brief time, the town of Vermilion.Contributing InstitutionMontana Historical Society Library and ArchivesGeolocation[1]
