Category: Points of Interest

A point of interest is a specific location that attracts visitors due to its cultural, historical, natural, or recreational significance. Typically marked by unique features, it offers an engaging experience, such as scenic views, educational value, or leisure activities. Examples include museums showcasing local heritage, natural landmarks like arches or waterfalls, or historic sites tied to significant events. Often accessible by trails or roads, POIs may provide amenities like visitor centers, guided tours, or interpretive signage, making them ideal for tourists, hikers, or locals seeking exploration and enrichment.

Cherry Creek, Nevada – Nevada State Historic Monument

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Ghost Towns of White Pine County, Nevada
Ghost Towns of White Pine County, Nevada

The Cherry Creek area, located in northern White Pine County, Nevada, has a rich history tied to its mineral wealth and strategic location in the Steptoe Valley. Native Americans mined gold in nearby Egan Canyon as early as 1850, marking the region as one of Nevada’s oldest mining areas. In 1859, Major Howard Egan established a stage station in Egan Canyon for Woodward and Chorpenning’s California Mail Company. By 1860, the Pony Express used this station as a change point, and from 1861 to 1869, it served as an Overland Stage station. In 1863, soldiers from Fort Ruby discovered gold in Egan Canyon, leading to the formation of the Gold Canyon Mining District. By 1864, a five-stamp mill—the first in eastern Nevada—was built to process ore, and a small mining camp emerged.

Founding and First Boom (1872–1875)

Cherry Creek was officially founded on September 21, 1872, when prospectors Peter Corning and John Carpenter staked the Tea Cup claims, rich in gold and silver, at the mouth of Cherry Creek Canyon. The ore was assayed at over $6,000 per ton, sparking a rush of prospectors from the nearby White Pine district. By spring 1873, the town had a population of about 400, with a livery stable, blacksmith shop, a $2,000 hotel, boarding houses, restaurants, and over 20 saloons. Wells Fargo opened a station, and a post office began operating on June 11, 1873. The Thompson mill, with five stamps and a 25-ton capacity, was erected at the Tea Cup mine, and the Flagstaff mill soon followed. At its peak, the town may have had up to 6,000 residents, though estimates vary. However, by early 1874, the initial mineral claims began to play out, and by 1875, most mines and mills had closed, leading to a sharp decline in population and economic activity.

Second Boom and Peak Prosperity (1880–1883)

In 1880, new gold and silver discoveries revitalized Cherry Creek, triggering its most prosperous period. By the end of 1881, major mines like the Tea Cup and Star each employed over 200 workers, and Cherry Creek became the largest voting precinct in White Pine County. In 1882, the population reportedly reached 7,800, with 6,000 being transient mine workers. The town boasted 28 saloons, five mercantile stores, two clothing stores, a drug store, and a stagecoach route to Toano in Elko County. One mine alone produced over $1 million in gold bullion. Fraternal organizations, including the Odd Fellows (1880) and Masons (1882), established lodges, reflecting the town’s growth. However, the financial crash of 1883 halted operations, and a fire at the Star Mine in 1884, followed by another devastating fire in 1888 that destroyed much of the business district, deepened the decline. By 1890, only about 350 residents remained.

Revivals and Declines (1897–1940s)

Cherry Creek experienced several revivals. In 1897, renewed mining activity brought a modest boom that lasted into the early 1900s. In 1905, the Tea Cup (renamed Biscuit), Exchequer, and Star mines reopened, and the Nevada Northern Railway extended to Cherry Creek in 1906, boosting the population to around 450. However, this revival faded by 1910. Further activity occurred from 1917 to 1923, with a 100-ton flotation mill built in 1919, and from 1924 to 1940, when mines were intermittently active. Total production for the district from 1872 to the 1940s is estimated at $15–20 million, with significant output of gold, silver, and later tungsten. During World War II, mining slowed, and the town gradually declined.

Modern Era (Post-1940s)

Since the 1940s, Cherry Creek’s population has dwindled, with only 72 residents recorded in the 2010 census. The Barrel Saloon, the last operating business, closed in July 2010. Despite this, Cherry Creek remains a living community, not a true ghost town, with a small year-round population. Historic structures, including the 1872 schoolhouse (now a museum open by appointment), the post office building, and several cemeteries with wooden and marble tombstones, still stand alongside modern homes. A log cabin labeled “Jail” near the cemeteries adds to the town’s historic charm. The Cherry Creek Mining District continues to see occasional activity by leaseholders, and the town’s well-preserved remnants make it a prime destination for those exploring Nevada’s mining heritage. Visitors are urged to respect private property and avoid trespassing.

Nevada State History Marker 52

Cherry Creek

The town of Cherry Creek before you was part of a network of mining districts that operated in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including the Gold Canyon district in Egan Canyon, five miles to the south.

Peter Corning and John Carpenter helped start the town of Cherry Creek when they staked the Tea Cup gold claim in 1872, resulting in a boom and the development of a town.  At the town’s peak in 1882, it boasted a population of over 1,800.  While production fluctuated, Cherry Creek continued to produce gold and silver ore into the 1940s.

Egan Canyon to the south was part of the 1855 route established by Howard Egan and the Mormon Battalion, and surveyed for use in 1859 by the U.S. Army.  By 1860, the Pony Express placed a change station at the west opening of the canyon.  Between 1861 and 1869, Butterfield’s Overland Mail and Stage established a station here that grew into a small temporary town.

In 1863, soldiers from Fort Ruby discovered gold in the canyon, leading to the creation of the town of Egan and a mining district.  By 1865 there were three stamp mills in Egan processing ore from the district.  Like Cherry Creek, to the north, Egan boomed and busted into the 1920s before mining ceased.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER No. 52

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

WHITE PINE PUBLIC MUSEUM INC.

Nevada State Historic Marker 52 Map

Summary

NameCherry Creek
LocationWhite Pine County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude39.9008, -114.8851
Nevada State Historic Marker 52

Legacy

Cherry Creek exemplifies Nevada’s cyclical mining history, with its dramatic booms and busts driven by gold and silver discoveries. Its strategic location near Egan Canyon’s transportation routes and its enduring historic structures, such as the museum and cemeteries, preserve its legacy as one of White Pine County’s most significant mining towns. The town’s story is one of resilience, with periods of prosperity and decline shaping a community that remains a vital link to Nevada’s Old West past. For more information, visit the Cherry Creek Museum (775-289-3720) or http://www.greatbasinheritage.org/cherry-creek-nevada.

African Americans and the Boston Saloon – Nevada State Historic Marker

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William A G Brown - Owner of the Boston Saloon, Virginia City, Nevada
William A G Brown – Owner of the Boston Saloon, Virginia City, Nevada

African Americans and the Boston Saloon – NSHM #266 is a Nevada State Historic Marker Located in Virginia City, Storey County, Nevada. Virginia City has eight Nevada State Historic Markers and a wonderful location to visit and dive deep into history.

Nevada State Historical Markers identify significant places of interest in Nevada’s history. The Nevada State Legislature started the program in 1967 to bring the state’s heritage to the public’s attention with on-site markers. Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost of damaged.

William A G Brown, a freeman, moved to Nevada and started the Boston Saloon. The Boston Saloon was located at the intersection of D and Union Streets . The Virginia City newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise called the saloon a “popular resort for many of the colored population”

The saloon building is lost the great fire of 1875. The site of the saloon was subject of an archeological excavation in the year 2000.

NSHM #266 Text

Between 1866 and 1875, a remarkable business thrived in Virginia City.  Free-born William A.G. Brown operated the Boston Saloon, serving Virginia City’s African Americans.  Archaeologists have revealed that Brown offered his customers finely prepared meals with the best cuts of meat.  Shortly after Brown sold his business, the great fire of 1875 swept through town and destroyed the building.

There were rarely more than one hundred African Americans living in Virginia City during its height in the 1860s, but they played varied and important roles in the community. Some African Americans pursued work as laborers, porters, and barbers.  Others became affluent business owners, and a prominent doctor won widespread respect.  By the 1870’s, African American children attended integrated schools. However, the decline of mining by 1880 sent many Nevadans, including African Americans, elsewhere. When mining in the state revived in the early 1900s, a shift at the federal, state, and local levels that implemented segregation via law or practice kept most African American families from returning to communities like Virginia City.

The site of the Boston Saloon is located uphill and to the left of this location at the corner of Union and D Streets now occupied by the Bucket of Blood Saloon parking lot.

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
DON MCBRIDE AND THE BUCKET OF BLOOD SALOON
RENO-SPARKS BRANCH OF THE NAACP, UNIT #1112
STATE HISTORICAL MARKER No. 266

Nevada State History Marker Summary

Nevada State Historic Marker266
NameAfrican Americans and the Boston Saloon
LocationVirginia City, Storey County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude39.3105, -119.6494

References

Savage Mansion – Nevada State Historic Marker

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Savage Mansion is Nevada State Historic Marker #87 and located in Historic Virginia City, Storey County, Nevada. Virginia City is a wonderful little town to visit and home to Eight Nevada State Historic Markers. The structure is not a true mansion in terms of size or structure compared to many of the east coast mansions. The term mansion was applied to the structure for promotional purposes.

This elegant structure, designed in the French Second Empire style, served as a residence for the superintendent, as well as a mine office for the Savage Mining Company. Ulysses S. Grant spoke from the second floor balcony on October 27, 1879 after his term in office.

Savage Mansion, Virginia City, Nevada
Savage Mansion, Virginia City, Nevada

Nevada State Historical Markers identify significant places of interest in Nevada’s history. The Nevada State Legislature started the program in 1967 to bring the state’s heritage to the public’s attention with on-site markers. Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost of damaged.

Nevada State Historic Marker #87

This elegant mansion, designed in the French Second Empire style, served as a residence for the superintendent, as well as a mine office for the Savage Mining Company.  The first floor served as the mine office while the upper two stories provided a residence for many successful superintendents.

Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States and “General of the Armies,” spoke to the townspeople from the second floor balcony on October 27, 1879, after a town parade in his honor.

STATE HISTORIC MARKER No. 87
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
NEVADA LANDMARK SOCIETY

The marker is located in Virginia City, Nevada, in Storey County and found on North D Street. While travelling south on D Street the marker is found on the right side of the street near address: 146 North D Street, Virginia City NV 89440, United States of America.

Marker Summary

Nevada State History Marker87
NameSavage Mansion
LocationVirginia City, Storey County Nevada
Latitude, Longitude39.3054, -119.6511

References

Samuel Langhorne Clemens – “Mark Twain”

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Before he wrote American classic novels as Mark Twain, Samuel Langhorne Clemens was a miner and newpaper reporter in Mineral County, Nevada. Prior to picking up his pen, Clemens moved from his birthplace in Hannibal, Missouri and found himself in the silver state. After his time in Nevada, he left to become the most loved American author, Mark Twain.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens September 1-2, 1867, Pera, Constantinople
Samuel Langhorne Clemens September 1-2, 1867, Pera, Constantinople

It is a well known fact that Samuel Clemmons first work was as a river boat pilot on the Mississippi river. This occupation was lost to him with the start of the Civil War. In 1861, Samuel followed his brother Orion to Nevada when his brother is appointed as Secretary of the Nevada Territory. Not long after his arrival in Carson City, Clemens is “Smitten with the silver feaver.” He and his brother started purchasing shares of mining operations in the Esmeralda Mining District. The principal town in this district was Aurora.

Filled with optimism, Samuel moved to Aurora in 1862. Upon his arrival he setup a camp and began working some of the claims he and his brother purchased. Despite his optimism, his work as a miner and investor did not produce and Clemens lives off an stipend set to him by his brother to cover the $10 per week living expenses. This failure was all too common among the hopeful people who travelled west.

Higbie and I were living in a cotton-domestic lean-to at the base of a mountain [Lover’s Leap]. It was very cramped quarters, with barely room for us and the stove – wretched quarters, indeed, for every now and then, between eight in the morning and eight in the evening, the thermometer would make an excursion of fifty degrees. We had a silver-mining claim under the edge of a hill [Last Change Hill] half a mile away in partnership with Bob Howland and Horatio Phillips, and we used to go there every morning, carrying with us our luncheon, and remain all day picking and blasting in a our shaft, hoping, despairing, hoping again, and gradually but surely running out of funds

Mark Twain, Roughing It

A picture postcard showing the exterior of Mark Twain's cabin in the mining town of Aurora, Nevada. The cabin and ground are covered with snow. - University of Nevada, Las Vegas University Libraries
A picture postcard showing the exterior of Mark Twain’s cabin in the mining town of Aurora, Nevada. The cabin and ground are covered with snow. – University of Nevada, Las Vegas University Libraries

Ironically, his failure in mining started his career which produced some of the most important books in American history. While in Aurora, he started sending stories about a miner’s life to the Virginia City newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise, using the penname “Josh”. These stories opened a door to greatness, and he was appointed to a job as a local reporter by Joseph Goodman.

After leaving Aurora for Virginia City, Clemens starts down his road to success and becomes a popular newspaper reported. He submits his humorous and satirical stories using the name Mark Twain. Five years later, the man from Missouri wrote the story, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavarous County” and Mark Twain became the American Story Teller.

I learned then, once and for all, that gold in its native state is but dull, the ornamental stuff, and that only low-born metals excited the admiration of the ignorant with an ostentatious glitter. However, like the rest of the world, I still go on underrating men of gold and glorifying men of mica. Commonplace human nature cannot rise above that.

Mark Twain, Roughing It

Nevada State Historic Marker #28

100 years ago, in 1864, Samuel Clemens left the territorial enterprise, moving on to California and worldwide fame.  He was a reporter here in 1863 when he first used the name, Mark Twain.  He later described his colorful adventures in Nevada in “Roughing It.”

NEVADA CENTENNIAL MARKER NO. 28

PLACED BY

JAMES LENHOFF, 1960

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Hevada State Historic Marker Summary

Nevada State Historic Marker28
NameMark Twain
LocationVirginia City, Storey County, Nevada
Latitude, Longititude39.3102, -119.6497

References

Cook Bank Building

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The Cook Bank Building is the most iconic image and popular images of the Rhyolite ghost town, in Nye County, Nevada. When John S. Cook built his bank to three stories, it inspired John Overbury to add a third floor to his Overbury building located just down Golden Street. The structure is centrally located in the remains of the town, and photographically, very interesting. Partially for this reason, the structure is a common choice for filming locations, and even appeared in an Alanis Morissette music video.

Rhyolite, Nevada photo by James L Rathbun
Rhyolite, Nevada photo by James L Rathbun

The Cook Bank is to most iconic building in Rhyolite and one of the most photographed ruins in Nevada.

John Cook and his brother started the John S. Cook & Company Bank in Goldfield, Nevada in January 1905. Later that same year the opened a new branch in Rhyolite. The banks first location was in a rented building on Main Street. After buying a lot on Golden Street, construction of the Cook Bank Building in the spring of 1907.

One of four banks in Rhyolite, the Cook Bank Building was by far the finest. Build of poured concrete, the building was three stories tall and had a basement that housed the Post Office. The interior was finished with marble staircases and mahogany accents. It also boasted modern conveniences such as electric lights and indoor plumbing

Despite its opulence, the Cook Bank was open less that two years. In the summer and fall of 1907, a financial crisis, often referred to as the Knickerboxer Crisis, caused banks across the country to go bankrupt. By 1910, the Cook Bank was closed and John Cook had sold off all of the building’s fixtures.

Since the closured of the Cook Bank, the building has appeared in many movies including: The Air Mail, The Arrogant, Cherry 2000, The island, Delusion, Ramona!, The Reward, Wanderer of the Wasteland, Six-string Samurai, Rough Rider’s Round Up, Bone Dry, Ultraviolet and more..

BLM Plaque – Rhyolite, Nevada
Cook Bank Building, Rhyolite Nevada, Photo marked 1908 and "Courtesy of the Nevada Historical Society"
Cook Bank Building, Rhyolite Nevada, Photo marked 1908 and “Courtesy of the Nevada Historical Society”

Cook Bank Building Map

References