The route from silver mine to silver dollar could be long and dangerous to the miner, owner, and laborers at every step. It is hard to understand the history without some knowledge of that route. More than simply wagon trails, stream crossings, or buffalo sightings, the route also consisted of people. About half the people who followed a route to populate mining towns were miners; the rest served those who mined, like hotel and boardinghouse operators, lawyers, laborers, assay men, merchants, restaurant servers, lumbermen, store owners, saloon keepers, or a traveling preacher. Images of America: Neihart Mining presents their history in the camp that "could have been the richest town in Montana."