The Sixes Mine was originally worked by the Cherokee and was located near the Cherokee town called Sixes . It may have been in operation as early as 1819 and would therefore predate the Georgia Gold Rush . The discovery of six gold mines was the reason why the Cherokee Nation was forced off their land . The Trail of Tears march began in Cherokee County approximately from where Sixes Mine is located . After the Cherokee Nation was driven off their land , the Georgia Land Lottery of 1832 took place , which granted plots of land to Georgia residents who were fortunate enough to win the lottery . One such winner was Mrs. Mary G. Franklin , founder of the Franklin-Creighton Mine . The six mines that comprised the Sixes are the '' ' Three Hundred and One ' '' , '' ' Cherokee ' '' , '' ' Clarkston ' '' , '' ' Downing Creek Placer Mine ' '' , '' ' Macou Project ' '' , and the '' ' Putnam Mine '' '
Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
Sixes mine