Wallace, Idaho has survived fires, martial law, mining disasters and strikes. Several of the world’s largest and deepest silver mines are in the region, and the area still produces almost half of the newly mined silver in the United States.

In 1884 a man named Colonel Wallace (name, not rank) bought 80 acres of Idaho swampland with Sioux scrip. The currency wasn’t legal, so when his purchase was declared void in 1889 there was claim jumping all over town leaving Wallace himself with nothing. Many others got rich from a group of mines that produced more than one billion ounces of silver.

There are 38 historic buildings in downtown Wallace constructed between 1890 and 1930. The first saloon and school actually opened in 1886, but a fire in 1890 completely destroyed the business district. Wallace’s residents, determined never to have that happen again, rebuilt everything using over 400,000 bricks in a single summer.

After labor troubles erupted in 1899, the entire valley was placed under martial law for two years.

Then, in the summer of 1910, more than 90 fires were blazing in the Northwest. It was so dry in Wallace that town officials decided to ignite dynamite for 60 straight hours, hoping the explosions would jolt rain from the sky.

But it didn't work and  it was fire again….burning a third of the town on August 20, 1910 in what became known as "The Big Blowup".

This particular firestorm created a local folk hero named Ed Pulaski. About ten miles south of town, Ranger Pulaski ordered his 43-man firefighting crew into an old mineshaft to escape the inferno. Barely outrunning the fire, Pulaski ordered his men to lie down on the tunnel floor while he hung blankets over the entrance. Threatening to shoot any man who tried to flee, Pulaski continued to throw water onto the blankets until the smoke overwhelmed him. When the men awoke the next day, only five of the forty three had perished.

There are many buildings worth seeing. Of special note is the railroad depot with its original Chinese bricks, the large brick White and Bender Building with a pressed metal turret, and an old bakery which now houses the Wallace District Mining Museum.

Just east of town is Burke Canyon. This historic mining area is set inside a narrow canyon and a seven mile road takes you past tailings, abandoned mines and the ghost towns of Gem and Burke.

Silver mining is not just history in Wallace. The Sunshine Silver Mine, which began operating in 1884, started shipping operations again in 2007. As the price of silver continues to rise, more and more mines are being reopened by both commercial and private investors. Retired miners conduct tours at the Sierra Silver Mine, a hard-rock operation with working equipment.

And just in case the town looks familiar? It's because Dante's Peak was filmed here.