Austin Nevada – Lander County

Austin, Nevada, is a small unincorporated community in Lander County, often described as a “living ghost town” due to its well-preserved remnants of an early Nevada mining town. Located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of 6,575 feet, Austin was a significant hub during the silver boom of the 1860s. This report explores Austin’s history, from its founding and peak during the silver rush to its decline and current status as a historical site, drawing on key events, structures, and cultural significance.

Founding and the Silver Rush (1862–1864)

Austin was founded in 1862 during a silver rush sparked by a discovery attributed to William Talcott, a former Pony Express rider. According to local legend, a Pony Express horse kicked over a rock in Pony Canyon, revealing silver ore. Assays confirmed the richness of the vein, and news spread rapidly. By July 1862, the Reese River Mining District was organized, attracting hundreds of prospectors. By summer 1863, Austin and the surrounding area boasted a population exceeding 10,000, primarily European Americans seeking wealth. The town was named after Alvah Austin, a partner of David Buell, who mapped out the settlement during the American Civil War, when the Union sought precious metals to fund the war effort.

In 1863, Austin became the county seat of Lander County, a role it held until 1979 when the seat shifted to Battle Mountain. The town’s strategic location along the Pony Express route and later U.S. Highway 50 facilitated its rapid growth. By January 1864, Austin was incorporated as a city, merging the camps of Clifton, Austin, and Upper Austin. The same year, Reuel Colt Gridley, a local merchant, launched a famous fundraising drive, repeatedly auctioning a sack of flour to raise over $250,000 for wounded Civil War veterans, an event that gained national attention.

Boom Years and Development (1864–1887)

Austin’s peak in the 1860s and 1870s was marked by significant infrastructure and cultural development. The town became a staging point for prospectors exploring central Nevada, leading to new mining camps and discoveries. By late 1863, Austin had over 7,000 residents, and by 1864, it established a police force, fire department, and daily newspaper, the Reese River Reveille. Brick buildings, schools, and gas-lit streets reflected its prosperity. The International Hotel, originally built in Virginia City in 1859 and partially relocated to Austin in 1863, became a central landmark and is considered Nevada’s oldest hotel. It continues to serve meals and drinks today.

Religious institutions also flourished. Four churches were built, three of which remain significant: the Catholic St. Augustine’s (1866), now a cultural center; the Methodist Church (1866), now a community center; and St. George’s Episcopal Church (1878), still in regular use and often called the prettiest frontier church standing. These churches are listed as Nevada Historical Marker 67.

The Nevada Central Railroad, completed in 1880, connected Austin to the transcontinental railroad at Battle Mountain, reducing reliance on costly mule trains. The Austin City Railway, nicknamed “The Mule’s Relief,” was built in 1880 to transport freight 2.8 miles from Clifton to Austin’s mining district, overcoming steep grades with a Baldwin steam locomotive. However, a tragic accident in 1882 killed the engineer, and the railway ceased operations in 1893 as mining declined.

Stokes Castle and Other Landmarks (1897)

One of Austin’s most iconic structures is Stokes Castle, a three-story granite tower built in 1897 by Anson Phelps Stokes, a wealthy New York capitalist with interests in local mines. Modeled after a medieval Italian tower Stokes admired near Rome, the castle was constructed with hand-hewn granite blocks raised by a hand winch. It featured three floors with fireplaces, plate-glass windows, balconies, and a battlemented terrace. The Stokes family occupied it briefly in June and July 1897, after which it fell into disrepair. Today, it stands as a testament to Austin’s mining wealth and architectural ambition.

Other notable structures include the Austin Cemetery (established 1863), listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Austin Historic District, a 748-acre area listed in 1971. The district encompasses the Austin City Hall, the Austin Masonic and Odd Fellows Hall, the Gridley Store, and the former Lander County Courthouse, among others. Toquima Cave, a nearby archaeological site with ancient Shoshone petroglyphs, adds to the area’s historical significance.

Decline and Transition (1887–1938)

Austin’s silver boom waned by 1887 as major production ceased, though a brief revival occurred in the 1910s. The White Pine mining excitement of 1869 drew many prospectors away, causing a temporary slump. The city was disincorporated in 1881, reflecting its declining population. The Nevada Central Railroad, vital to Austin’s economy, faced challenges with the rise of motor vehicles and stage lines in the 1920s. By 1937, the railroad’s owners, including J.G. Phelps Stokes, decided to abandon it, and the tracks were removed in 1938.

By the early 20th century, Austin’s population dwindled. The 1920 census reported fewersomewhere around 200 residents, and by 2020, the census-designated place had only 167 residents. Despite this, Austin remained a cultural and historical hub, preserving its past through the Austin Historical Society Museum, opened in 2006 on Main Street during the annual Gridley Days festival. The museum houses artifacts from mining, ranching, railroads, Native American tribes, schools, and churches, including vintage furniture, mining equipment, and pre-Shoshone grinding stones.

Austin Today

Today, Austin is a quiet mountain town with a population of approximately 167, nestled in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest along U.S. Route 50, dubbed “The Loneliest Road in America.” It attracts tourists for its historical sites, outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, and hunting, and natural attractions like Spencer Hot Springs. Eleven historic sites, including Stokes Castle and the churches, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Greater Austin Area Chamber of Commerce promotes the town as a base for exploring the Toiyabe Range and nearby ghost towns. The Austin Historical Museum continues to educate visitors, open from April to October, and the town’s preserved buildings offer a glimpse into Nevada’s mining frontier.

Conclusion

Austin, Nevada, encapsulates the rise and fall of a classic Western mining town. From its explosive growth during the 1862 silver rush to its quiet existence today, Austin’s history reflects the boom-and-bust cycles of the American frontier. Its preserved structures, like Stokes Castle, the International Hotel, and its historic churches, along with its museum and archaeological sites, make it a valuable window into Nevada’s past. As a living ghost town, Austin continues to draw visitors seeking history, adventure, and the stark beauty of central Nevada.

Nevada State Historic Marker #8

Austin sprang into being after William Talcott discovered silver at this spot on May 2, 1862.  Talcott came from Jacobsville, a stage stop six miles to the west on the Reese River. He was hauling wood out of Pony Canyon, directly below, when he made the strike that set off the famous “Rush to Reese.”

A town called Clifton flourished briefly in Pony Canyon but fast growing Austin soon took over and became the Lander County seat in 1863. Before the mines began to fail in the 1880s Austin was a substantial city of several thousand people.  From Austin, prospectors fanned out to open many other important mining camps in the Great Basin.

CENTENNIAL MARKER No. 8 – STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

Austin Historic Images

Austin Nevada Map

Town Summary

Name	Austin Nevada
Location	Lander County, Nevada
Also Known As	Jacobsville, Jacobs Station, Jacobs Springs
Latitude, Longitude	39.4919, -117.0703
GNIS	858766
Elevation	2,025 meters / 6,644 feet
Population	7,000
Nevada Historical Marker	8
Newspaper	Reese River Reveille May 23, 1863 – 1993 (missing: June 27, July 1, 8, 11, 15, 18, Aug 12, 26, 29, Sept 9, 16, 23, 26,1863) Daily Morning Democrat Aug 9, 1882 – July 8, 1883 Peoples Advocate Dec 3, 1890 – Jan 31, 1893 Nevada Progressive Dec 31, 1924 – Oct 2, 1926 Austin Sun Sept 2, 1933 – June 23, 1934

Nevada State Historic Markers in Austin Nevada

References

• austinmuseumnevada.com
• Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps