Founded by Olaf Nelson in 1887, the company was sold and reorganized as the Gold King Mining and Milling Company. In the fall of 1893, Willis z. Kinney joined
Cyrus W. Davis and Fred W. Jones in prospecting what became the Harrison Mine, near Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado; with financial support from Davis and Jones, Kinney opened the mine and put into operation a ten-stamp mill. When accessible ores proved unprofitable, Kinney leased the adjoining Gold King
claim, which yielded large profits. The Gold King Mining and Milling Company formed in 1895, absorbed the Harrison Mining Company
Ltd., and the Gold King lode. Kinney continued as general manager until 1917, when the Gold King Extension Mines Co. was organized
to consolidate several properties. In 1904 the name was changed to the Gold King Consolidated Mines Company; in 1914 it was renamed the Gold King Mining Company, and in 1917 the Gold King Extension Mines Company was formed to consolidate the Gold King Mine and its associated milling operations. Finally in 1932 it was again reorganized as the Gold King Mines Corporation. Photographs transferred to the Department of Photography ca. 1982.