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
| Name | Cherry Creek |
| Location | White Pine County, Nevada |
| Latitude, Longitude | 39.9008, -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.
