Quest for lost gold mine led to 12,000-acre jewel

This episode of the Offbeat Oregon History podcast recounts the legendary quest for a lost gold mine in southern Oregon, which ultimately led to the accidental discovery of Crater Lake in 1853. The story begins with a mysterious miner known only as 'Set him up,' who returned from the Oregon wilderness with vast amounts of gold and spoke cryptically about a rich cabin mine he'd worked each summer. When he vanished in 1853, a group of miners from Wairika, California, embarked on a search, only to find Crater Lake instead. On a hunting expedition, prospector John Hillman stumbled upon the massive volcanic crater and its stunning deep blue lake—becoming the first European-descended person to witness it. Though the gold mine was never found, the discovery of Crater Lake transformed a failed treasure hunt into one of Oregon’s most iconic natural wonders. The episode blends folklore with documented history, noting that while the 'Lost Cabin Gold Mine' remains mythical, the discovery of Crater Lake is well attested, with Kirby Jackson’s research and Ruby L. Holt’s writings serving as key sources. The story underscores how legend and reality often intertwine in the American West.