Cowboys, wagons, miners, immigrants, homesteaders—all these and more made their way along the Oregon Trail in the 1800s in the hope of finding their dream—whether that was gold, cattle, a new business venture, or land—each person was drawn by their own individual vision. Baker City, Oregon, dubbed The Queen City of the Mines, was a booming mining town in the 1880s, but started as a small way-stop for supplies during the 1860s and early ’70s.
Baker City sits in a beautiful valley nestled between the Elkhorn and Wallowa Mountain ranges, with abundant grass for cattle, and from the mid 1860s on, gold and silver mining boomed in the surrounding hills. Walking the town and its outskirts was a delight, as the Powder River runs through the outer edge of the business district. I set my heroine’s boardinghouse a short walk away from the river, with the main business street a couple of blocks beyond.
During the early 1800s, the time Dreaming on Daisies is set, the town grew from 300 people (in the ’70s) to well over a thousand in the early 1880s. By 1890 it crested 2600, with miners and hangers-on pouring in and hoping to make their fortune, to its present-day population of nearly 10,000.
With 10 of my 11 books, my husband and I traveled to the area to do onsite research, in the hope of getting a deeper look into the history. In Baker City, we discovered a mix of the old and the new and were delighted to find a large museum, as well as the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center which history buffs would love, as it offers living history demonstrations.
Something that took us by surprise and is located just across the road from our motel was an old Chinese cemetery. Before visiting the town, I didn’t realize it had contained a sizeable Chinese population that was brought in to work the mines, and included a one-to-two block-long section of town built specifically for the workers and their families. That aspect of the story is included in my 162 pg novella in this series, Forget Me Not.
One of the things I loved about Baker City was the diversity. You’ll find the ornate Geiser Grand Hotel containing stained glass ceilings and fancy wood work, and then a few miles from town the valley contains expansive, rugged cattle ranches and barbed wire fences. The hotel wasn’t built until 1889 at the height of the gold rush, or I would have featured it in my series, as it was the most elegant hotel in the Northwest and it’s still in use today.
I discovered an interesting aspect about the hotel known to some of the locals. In its heyday, women of ill repute were brought in to entertain the wealthy miners and businessmen. Most of the bedrooms were on the second and third floor, and an open, circular hallway was visible from the ground floor. The circular railing curves around with rooms opening off of the hall. When the ladies of the town discovered their husbands visiting the Grand for not-so-respectable reasons, they would sit in the dining area. There, they could keep a hawk eye on the hallways and doors, as the dining area is open up to the stained glass ceiling three floors above. Finally, in desperation as his business was ebbing, the owner built an external stairway at the back of the building and snuck his customers up that way, thus avoiding the watchful eyes of the women.
All in all, our research trip to Baker City was charming, and most of the historic places open to tourists were a wonderful source of material as well as an inspiration. We found the people to be friendly and helpful, and stories about the area abound at every turn—truly a writer’s delight.
I hope you enjoyed learning about Baker City. Leave a comment and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a copy of Dreaming on Daisies.
Dreaming on Daisies—Just Released—Part of the Love Blossoms in Oregon Series
When her father’s debts, brought on my heavy drinking, threaten Leah Carlson’s family ranch, she fights to save it. When handsome banker Steven Harding must decline her loan request, he determines to do what he can to help. Just as he arrives to serve as a much-needed ranch hand, Leah’s family secrets—and the pain of her past—come to a head. They could destroy everything she’s fought for. And they could keep her from ever opening her heart again. This is historical romance that offers hope and healing to the deepest wounds in a woman’s past.
Miralee Ferrell is a multi-published, award-winning author of 11 books. She lives in the Pacific NW with her husband of 42 years, where they enjoy working in their yard and garden, riding horses and playing with their dogs. Two of Miralee’s books in the Love Blossoms in Oregon series are currently on sale—with Wishing on Buttercups offered FREE on all ebook formats until Oct. 4.
I always love towns that are rich in history. I also love old architecture. Thank you for sharing.
Have a blessed day!
Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.
countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com
I loved hearing about Baker City, Miss Miralee. Thank you! I found it very interesting that Chinese were brought in to work the mines. Interesting facts are fun to learn!
Thank you for the giveaway! Keeping my fingers crossed!
Welcome to the Junction, Merilee! So happy to have you here. Baker City sounds amazing. I loved reading about your journey. Congrats on your release! May you have lots and lots of sales!
Hi Miralee! Welcome to P&P. We’re so happy you paid us a visit. It’s been a while but we’re glad to see you again. Baker City, Oregon sounds like a town that’s rich in history. I love visiting these places that were once so important to the settlers. I’d love to have seen it in its heyday. I’m sure it was something.
Congratulations on your new release! All your book covers are so pretty and love how you made flowers as the theme.
Wishing you much success!!
I love historicals and it’s a nice change to read about what happened here in American. I’ve been watching Hell on Wheels for some insight too but much prefer it in reading a book. And I love that you do onsite research.
What an interesting blog!
Great post! Love learning about these old towns in America. Thanks for sharing such a great post!
Enjoyed reading your post today! Thank you so much for sharing! Congrats on your latest release!
Thank you for all of those interesting facts, including the hotel which didn’t make it in the book. It sounds beautiful. The existence of the Chinese cemetery was also an interesting tidbit that I would not have considered being there.
Congratulations on this new release.
Dreaming on Daises sounds like a good read. Thanks for sharing.
I like learning about places to visit in our country. Interesting information about Baker City
I enjoyed learning a little about the Oregon Trail. “Dreaming on Daisies” sounds like a good read. Best of luck on your new release.
I live in Oregon and drive through Baker City quite often! Although I lie by the coast, I go through Baker City when I visit my granddaughter who live in Salt Lake City! Thanks for your post! I’ve seen the Geiser Grand Hotel and my husband and I always talk about the signs we see about it whenever we drive them! Fun to have you chat about this today!
I love visiting cities where you can learn about their history through museums and exhibits! Thanks for sharing about Baker City!
Wow, great info. I would love research trips. The story about the hotel is interesting, too. 🙂
We did not make it to Baker City, Oregon, but did stop at a museum that highlighted the Oregon Trail several years ago. I would have to check my journals to find out exactly where, but I think it was in Wyoming.
We haven’t been to Oregon in many, many years and then, only along the coast. Baker City sounds like an interesting area to visit. The Geiser Grand Hotel sounds like a must stop for any trip. The local government and inhabitants seem to have done a good job of preserving the local history and sharing it with visitors.
Best of luck with the LOVE BLOOMS IN OREGON Series. Dreaming On Daisies sounds like it will be an interesting and enjoyable story.
I loved learning about your research trip to Baker City, Miralee. I would love to visit this historic town one day!
Hi Miralee. It must be fascinating traveling to as one of the origin boom towns of the early 1800’s. It’s even more interesting hearing about the population expansions during various times, each time yielding a unique resource that promised hope and prosperity, although so few actually saw the financial rewards. Thank you for sharing tidbits of our great history.
Hi Miralee. Love this post. Very interesting. So much to learn and enjoy. Sure would love to visit this placw and would really love to win your book. WOW, that Hotel has been there for many years. Amazes me. Don’t think ours will last that long. Please give me an entry. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
Loved reading more about Baker City and your research trek, Miralee. Since historical fiction, especially those stories set in the era of Western frontier times, is my favorite pleasure reading genre, I am always interested in the ‘real’ history and how it is used in fictional stories. I very much appreciate your research efforts, your understanding of that history and your talent of using facts in your story to produce an engaging, enjoyable book. In the entire Love Blossoms in Oregon series, each book won my heart with your ‘people’ and their individuality. Each character stepped into my circle of friends, and I was sad when I had to leave them behind! The newest, Dreaming on Daisies, is exceptional and will linger long in my heart and mind. I highly recommend the series!
Love hearing about your research. I enjoyed the book and I need to get the others. Thanks for letting me help.
Thank you all, ladies, for visiting and leaving a comment. I wish you could all win a copy of my newest book, but I so appreciate the time you take to read and enter. Blessings on your week!!