Our family business was begun by Ralph Preston, a native Oregonian who dedicated much of his life studying western history and geology. He studied old maps, pored over archives, and researched the westward movement of pioneers and gold miners for over 40 years. The result of his lifelong passion are these historical map packages which reveal one hundred years of ghost towns and known gold & gem deposits across ten western US states.

In addition to his studies, much of Ralph Preston’s research, knowledge and stories were gathered in his travels to many of the western states’ most remote areas. Tracing the early trails, stage roads and military sites always resulted in thrilling tales of our history, and that’s as true now as ever.