Tag: Nevada State Historic Markers

Nevada State Historic Markers are a series of plaques and monuments that commemorate significant sites, events, and individuals in the history of Nevada. These markers, scattered throughout the state, provide educational insights into Nevada’s rich and diverse heritage, from its Native American origins and the era of westward expansion to the development of mining towns and modern-day landmarks. Each marker offers a glimpse into the past, detailing historical narratives and cultural milestones that have shaped Nevada’s identity. They serve as accessible, public resources for residents and visitors alike, fostering an appreciation for the state’s historical journey and its contributions to the broader tapestry of American history.

Ruby Valley Station

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The Ruby Valley Station was started in 1859 as part of George Chorpenning’s mail route. Later the station served the Pony Express and Overland Mail Company line in White Pine County, Nevada. The station was managed by William “Uncle Billy” Rogers and Frederick William Hurst.

Ruby Valley, White Pine County, Nevada - Ruby Valley Pony Express Station - photo taken in 1944
Ruby Valley, White Pine County, Nevada – Ruby Valley Pony Express Station – photo taken in 1944

Richard Burton visited the site on October 7, 1860, Rogers served as stationkeeper. At that time, this station was considered a half-way point between Salt Lake City, Utah and the Carson Valley. Protection from angry Western Shoshone Tribes is provided from Fort Ruby from 1862 – 1869, which is located near by. The station is an extremely small log cabin which is just eleven feet wide and eighteen feet lone.

The area’s rich soil provided excellent opportunities to raise food and hay for the other stations along the route. A band of Shoshone and the army also established camps near the station at various times. Camp Floyd’s Company B of the 4th Artillery Regiment arrived at Ruby Valley in May 1860 to protect the mail route during the Pyramid Lake War and remained there until October. Thereafter, the station’s name appeared on the 1861 mail contract list.

NPS – Pony Express DIVISION FOUR: STATIONS BETWEEN SALT LAKE CITY AND ROBERTS CREEK

The structure is built from vertical logs which form the walls. The walls are topped by smaller logs placed perpendicularly to form a slightly sloped shed roof. The root is originally covered with sod. An exterior stone chimney stands at one end of the cabin. The only opening into the building is the front entrance, centered in the main facade. Pony Express stations consisted of rudimentary cabins for shelter, they were critical to the survival of the route.

For preservation, the Ruby Vally station was physically relocated to the grounds of the Northeastern Nevada Museum in Elko in 1960. The Northeastern Nevada Historical Society donated a brass maker to identify the station site in 1979. 

Ruby Valley Station Map

Station Summary

NameRuby Valley Station
LocationWhite Pine County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude40.04652, -115.4918
GNIS845958
Elevation6030 feet
Pony Express Station No.131

References

Lida Nevada – Esmeralda County Ghost Town

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Now on private property, Lida Nevada is a ghost town and mining camp located in Esmeralda County, Nevada just off State Route 266. The area probably saw it first activity in the 1860’s when Mexican and Native Americans worked the surrounding hills for gold. Their efforts were limited by their ability to extract gold from the ore. In the spring of 1867, American prospects arrived in Lida Valley and took steps to organize a mining district.

Lida Tent City in 1905
Lida Tent City in 1905

The town of Lida Valley was organized and plotted in March 1872. The town experienced an influx people and soon supported common business for these mining towns including a livery, stables, shops, saloons and a Post Office. On March 17, 1873, the United States authorized a post office for the small community. There was some confusion caused by the remote region and the post office was authorized for Inyo County, California. This mistake was corrected the following month. April 31, 1873 saw the newly established post office operating as Lida, Nevada.

Freight was brought into Lida from the nearest rail station in Wadsworth. The supplies were hauled into Lida from Silverpeak using a newly build road for $100 per ton. Ore was processed at one of steam powered mills which were constructed and springs in the area. A five stamp mill and an eight stamp mill processed ore and higher quality ore with value of $500 to $1000 per ton was hauled to Belmont and Austin for processing. In the 1870’s mining declined and by the 1880s Lida only had 10 businesses in operation.

In 1905 the town of Goldfield experienced a gold boom. Lida formed a chamber of commerce to capitalize on the event. The weekly Lida Enterprise was published and stage service to Goldfield was established. The springs near Lida helped supply Goldfield utilizing a newly constructed pipe between the towns. An automobile stage was setup in 1905 to provide service between Lida and Big Pine, California.

Prospecting Parties in Lida, Nevada
Prospecting Parties in Lida, Nevada

Lida prospered for about three years until the camp started to decline once again. Important properties were tied up in litigation which hampered the towns growth. Just prior to World War I, schools, hotels and some ranches found operation until the town languished completed.

Today, Lida is on private property.

Nevada State Historic Marker Text

Known as a contact point for Shoshone and Northern Paiute Indians, Lida Valley was the site of early prospecting in 1860’s.

Later prospectors organized a mining district in 1867 and laid out the town in 1872. Soon stores, shops, stables and a post office were established. Some ore was milled locally, yet high-grade ore ($500-$1,000 per ton) was treated at Austin or Belmont. After 1880 mining declined.

Lida revived and thrived for three years during the Goldfield boom but declined again in 1907. Mining efforts resumed a few years later, and a small community existed here until World War I.

Lida Historical Plaque

Nevada State Historic Marker Summary

NameLida
LocationEsmeralda County, Nevada
Nevada State Historic Marker157
Latitude, Longitude37.4580, -117.4985

Town Summary

NameLida
LocationEsmeralda County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude37.4582807,-117.5068931
Elevation6,810 Feet
GNIS841625
Population300
NewspaperLida Enterprise
Post Office1873 – 1932

Lida Nevada Map

Resources

Gold Point Nevada – Esmeralda County Ghost Town

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Founded in 1860s, Gold Point, is a ghost time and silver mining camp located in Esmerelda County, Nevada. The townsite was known by three different names, depending upon the ore being actively mined at the time. Lime deposits in 1868 saw the formation of the town “Lime Point”. The ore was hauled to nearby Lida for processing.

Hornsilver / Gold Point Nevada in 1908
Hornsilver / Gold Point Nevada in 1908

Operations were stopped in 1882 when the huge processing costs, inefficient milling and the distance to the railroads were the contributing factors. The growth of Tonapah gave the area better facilities for ore processing. In 1903 and 1904 a rush in Goldfield virtually emptied the district. Interest returned to the district in 1905 when the Great Western Mine opened operations.

In the spring of 1908 the discovery of “hornsilver” silver ore nearby prompted the district to rename to Horn Silver. Rich ore prompted a rush of miners to the district. May 1908, saw the formation of the Hornsilver Herald and a post office followed just a few days later. Immediately plans to bring in railroad server to haul ore were considered. Automobiles were used to provide stage service to Goldfield, Lida and Cuprite for a modest sum.

Hornsilver is the latest wonder in Nevada Mining districts… A comer… Main Street is extending almost as you watch it.

Goldfield Review

The town of Hornsilver boasted 13 saloons, several shops and stores. All in all, some 225 framed buildings, tents and shacks housed the citizens of the little hamlet. The miners followed the ore deep into the ground until 1908 when courts battles brought many operations to a standstill. Milling in the area was still inefficient which cost the mines their profits and unsustainable for a time.

1915 found the returns of large scale mine operations. The Great Western Mine was sold to Charles Stoneham of the New York Giants in 1922. The Great Western Mine was the districts best producer with over $500,000 worth of gold and silver being produced. The District and Town was again renamed to Gold Point in 1930 and operated until 1942 until World War II pulled all essential personnel into war time production.

Owner of the New York Giants baseball team and New York Giants soccer team Charles Stoneham
Owner of the New York Giants baseball team and New York Giants soccer team Charles Stoneham

Today, the town maintains a population of 7 citizens. Manybuildings remain in various states and some of the homes and cabins are available for rental.

Ghost Town Summary

NameGold Point
LocationEsmerelda County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude37.3546518,-117.3738315
GNIS848320
Elevation5,400 feet
Activity1868 – 1880 – Lime Point
1907 – 1927 – Hornsilver
1930 – Gold Point
Post Office1908 –
NewspaperHornsilver Herald

Gold Point Map

Resources

Potosi Nevada – Clark County Ghost Town

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Potosi Nevada is the oldest lode mine in Nevada and the town site is located just off highway 160 between Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nevada.  The site was started in 1856 by some Mormon prospectors who were lead to the location with the help of a Piute guide.  The Mormons found the site in April 1856 and a month latter it was named Potosi after the boyhood home of Nathaniel Jones.  They did not begin mining until August after a return trip to Utah for supplies.  

Potosi mine, south center of sec. 12, T. 23 S., R. 57 E., the mine workings explore a zone at the base of the Yellowpine limestone. Clark County, Nevada. Circa 1921. Plate 33-B in U.S. Geological Survey. Professional paper 162. 1931.
Potosi mine, south center of sec. 12, T. 23 S., R. 57 E., the mine workings explore a zone at the base of the Yellowpine limestone. Clark County, Nevada. Circa 1921. Plate 33-B in U.S. Geological Survey. Professional paper 162. 1931.

By September, the first wagon of ore sent back to Utah for trading and three months later three wagons returned with supplies including bellows, furnace, and hearths among other things.  On Christmas day 1856, an crude adobe furnace was used to smelt ore.

In the spring of 1861, a larger smelter was setup by the Colorado Mining Company at the Potosi Spring.  News of new silver mine spread all over the west in no time.  The town of Potosi was setup 700 feet below of the Potosi Mine or the Las Vegas Silver Mines as they were called and was soon home to 100 miners.

Carol Lombard was killed on a Douglas DC-3, Jan 16, 1942 on Mt Potosi
Carol Lombard was killed on a Douglas DC-3, Jan 16, 1942 on Mt Potosi

The site continued to slowly grow and develop until 1906.  In 1913 the Empire Zinc Company purchased the rights and was soon Potosi was Nevada’s largest producer of Zinc.  After nearly 100 years of production Potosi produced about 4.5 million in lead, silver and zinc.

Potosi is a designated at Nevada State Historic Marker no. 115.

Town Summary

NamePotosi
LocationClark County, Nevada
GNIS849366
Latitude, Longitude35.9708, -115.5408
Elevation5705
Population100

Potosi Trailmap

References

Bullionville Nevada – Lincoln County Ghost Town

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Bullionville, Nevada, is a ghost town in Lincoln County, located approximately one-quarter mile east of U.S. Route 93, one mile north of Panaca, and ten miles south of Pioche. This report explores the history of Bullionville, a short-lived but significant milling town that thrived from 1870 to 1882, driven by its strategic water resources and proximity to the silver mines of Pioche. Drawing from historical records, this account details its establishment, growth, decline, and lasting remnants.

Bullionville, Nevada, Horse-driven slip scrapers retrieve tailings to dump onto a conveyor and then dropped into a freight car. Before 1880
Bullionville, Nevada, Horse-driven slip scrapers retrieve tailings to dump onto a conveyor and then dropped into a freight car. Before 1880

Establishment and Early Development (1870–1872)

Bullionville was founded in February 1870 when John H. Ely and W.H. Raymond relocated a five-stamp mill from Hiko to a site selected for its reliable water supply from Meadow Valley Creek, a northern tributary of the Colorado River. Initially named Ely City, the settlement was renamed Bullionville later that year. The availability of water made it an ideal location for milling operations, prompting the construction of additional mills to process ore from nearby Pioche mines. Between 1870 and 1872, most of Pioche’s mills were established in Bullionville due to this advantage. The 1870 Federal Census recorded 96 residents, indicating early growth.

In 1872, construction began on the Pioche and Bullionville Railroad, a 21-mile narrow-gauge line costing $255,000, designed to transport ore from Pioche mines to Bullionville’s mills. Completed in 1873, the railroad facilitated efficient ore processing and spurred further development.

Peak Prosperity (1872–1875)

Bullionville experienced rapid growth between 1872 and 1875, reaching a population of approximately 500 by 1875. The town boasted five mills with a total of 110 stamps, making it a regional hub for ore processing. It also housed the first iron foundry in eastern Nevada, reflecting its industrial significance. The community supported a range of businesses, including hotels, stores, multiple saloons, blacksmith shops, and a daily stage service to Pioche. A post office opened in April 1874, further solidifying its status as a burgeoning settlement.

The Panaca Summit Charcoal Kilns, built in the mid-1870s, supported Bullionville’s mills by producing charcoal, a critical fuel for smelting silver ore. Constructed by skilled stone masons using rhyolitic tuff and operated by Swiss and Italian woodcutters known as “Carbonari,” these kilns processed up to 50 cords of wood per cycle, yielding enough charcoal to smelt one ton of ore per 30 bushels. The kilns, located near Panaca, operated until the late 1890s, outlasting Bullionville’s peak.

Decline and Abandonment (1875–1898)

The construction of a water system connecting Bullionville to Pioche in 1875 marked the beginning of the town’s decline. This system enabled Pioche to support its own milling operations, reducing the need for Bullionville’s facilities. Between 1875 and 1877, most mills were relocated to Pioche, and the Pioche and Bullionville Railroad ceased operations by 1880. The 1880 Federal Census reported only 68 residents, a sharp decline from the town’s peak.

In 1880, an attempt was made to sustain Bullionville by erecting a plant to process tailings left by the former mills. However, this effort failed to reverse the town’s fortunes. The post office closed in November 1886, briefly reopened from October 1892 to July 1898, and closed permanently thereafter. By 1900, the Federal Census recorded only two families, the Morgans (3 members) and the Clarks (10 members), residing in Bullionville. The town was effectively abandoned by the early 20th century.

Legacy and Current State

Today, Bullionville is a ghost town with few physical remnants. The Bullionville Cemetery, accessible via a short trail at Cathedral Gorge State Park, is one of the primary surviving features, documented in the 1980s as part of the Civic Historical Research Project led by Paul Vance. The cemetery offers insight into the lives of early residents, though no original buildings remain. The Nevada State Historical Marker No. 203, located along U.S. Route 93 one mile north of Panaca, commemorates Bullionville’s history.

Photographic evidence from the Nevada Historical Society, including images of mining operations circa 1910–1912, provides visual documentation of Bullionville’s industrial past. The Panaca Summit Charcoal Kilns, still standing, serve as a testament to the region’s mining heritage.

Conclusion

Bullionville, Nevada, was a fleeting but vital component of Lincoln County’s mining economy in the 1870s. Its strategic location and water resources fueled a brief period of prosperity, marked by industrial innovation and community growth. However, the development of infrastructure in Pioche led to its rapid decline, leaving Bullionville as a ghost town by the late 19th century. Its cemetery, historical marker, and nearby charcoal kilns preserve its legacy, offering a glimpse into Nevada’s boom-and-bust mining history.

Directions

Buillionville is located about 10 miles south of Pioche, near the intersection of the 319 and 93, Great Basin Highway. The Bullionville cemetary is located after a short hike in the Cathedral Gorge State Park.

Town Summary

TownBullionville
Latitude, Longitude37.803333, -114.406944
Elevation5220
Post OfficeApril 1874 – November 1886
October 1892 – July 1898
Nevada State Historic Marker203
Population500

Nevada State Historic Marker

Bullionville began early in 1870 when John H. Ely and W.H. Raymond removed their five-stamp mill at Hiko and placed it at this point. The enterprise prospered and during the next two years most of nearby Pioche’s mills were located here because of the proximity to water. A twenty-one mile narrow gauge railroad, the Pioche and Bullionville, was completed in 1873 at a cost of $255,000 to haul ore from the Pioche mines to the reduction mills. Bullionville grew rapidly and by 1875 it had five mills, a population of 500 and the first iron foundry in eastern Nevada. During the same year a water works was constructed at Pioche which eventually led to the relocation of the mills. Although a plant was erected here in 1880 to work the tailings deposited by the former mills, this failed to prevent the decline of Bullionville.

Nevada State Historic Marker

Bullionville Trail Map

Resources