Jessup Nevada – Churchill County Ghost Town

Jessup, Nevada, is a ghost town in Churchill County with a brief but vibrant history tied to the mining boom of the early 20th century. Founded in 1908 following the discovery of gold and silver, Jessup quickly grew into a bustling mining camp before declining just as rapidly. Today, it stands as a reminder of the transient nature of resource-based economies in the American West.

Early days in Jessup, 1908 - Unknown photographer - Stanley W. Paher, Nevada Ghost Towns & Mining Camps, Howell North, (1970), p 112, Mrs. R.R. Purdy collection
Early days in Jessup, 1908 – Unknown photographer – Stanley W. Paher, Nevada Ghost Towns & Mining Camps, Howell North, (1970), p 112, Mrs. R.R. Purdy collection

Founding and Early History (1908)

Jessup’s story began in February 1908 when Frank Jessup and L.H. Murray discovered gold in the Trinity Range, located in Churchill County, Nevada. The town, initially named White Canyon, was quickly renamed Jessup in honor of its discoverer. Within a month of its founding, the population swelled to over 300 people as prospectors and settlers flocked to the area, drawn by reports of rich ore. The Jessup Mining District was swiftly established, and by April 1908, lumber was arriving by the carload, with wooden structures rapidly replacing the tents that had initially housed the miners. The town’s early infrastructure included grocery stores, saloons, lumber yards, and a meat market, reflecting its sudden growth.

Growth and Peak (1908–1909)

At its peak in 1909, Jessup supported a population of approximately 300 residents and boasted a variety of businesses essential to a mining community. These included:

  • Three grocery stores
  • Two lumber yards
  • Seven saloons
  • A meat market

Averaging one saloon for every 43 citizens, this highlights the town’s rough-and-tumble character. The post office, opened in 1908, further solidified Jessup’s status as an official settlement. Transportation was facilitated by the Southern Pacific Railroad, which provided access by stopping at nearby White Plains, allowing for the shipment of supplies and high-grade ore. The mines in the Jessup Mining District were highly productive, with carloads of ore assaying over $100 per ton shipped by rail from Huxley. At least eight active mines operated in the area, contributing to the town’s economic vitality.

Mining Operations

The Jessup Mining District was the heart of the town’s economy, with gold and silver as the primary commodities. Key mines included:

  • Gold King: The original discovery claim.
  • Valley King Group: Produced about 1,000 ounces of gold in 1908–1909.

Ore was initially hauled using automobiles—a novel method at the time—before being shipped by rail. Despite the early success, the mines’ output began to wane by the end of 1909, signaling the start of Jessup’s decline. In later decades, intermittent mining activity continued, with lessees conducting minor work, but the district never regained its former prominence. More recently, exploration in the 1980s and 1990s identified additional gold and silver resources, though these efforts were separate from the original mining boom.

Decline and Abandonment (1909–1910s)

Jessup’s boom was short-lived, with the town’s fortunes declining rapidly after 1909. The depletion of easily accessible ore, a common fate for mining towns, led to a sharp decrease in population and economic activity. By the end of 1909, the initial excitement had faded, and the town was slowly abandoned. The post office eventually closed, though the exact date is not recorded. By the 1910s, Jessup was largely deserted, with only sporadic mining efforts in the following decades. The harsh desert environment likely contributed to the town’s inability to sustain itself once the mining boom ended. Today, only a few dilapidated wooden buildings and abandoned mines remain.

Current Status and Legacy

Jessup is now a ghost town, located a few miles north of Interstate 80 between Fernley and Lovelock. The surrounding area, part of the Trinity Range, is still used for ranching, and modern radio towers, including Nevada’s tallest, stand nearby. While the town itself is abandoned, its history is preserved through remnants of its mining past. The Jessup Gold Prospect, a more recent mining venture, highlights the area’s continued potential for resource extraction, though it remains distinct from the original 1908 boom. Jessup’s rise and fall exemplify the boom-and-bust cycles that shaped many Western mining towns.

Chronological Table of Key Events

YearEventDetails
1908Discovery of gold and silverFrank Jessup and L.H. Murray discover gold in the Trinity Range
1908Town founded, renamed JessupPopulation grows to over 300 within months
1908Jessup Mining District establishedAt least eight active mines, ore shipped by rail from Huxley
1909Peak population and activity300 residents, multiple businesses, post office operational
1909Decline beginsMining boom falters, population decreases
1910sTown largely abandonedOnly intermittent mining activity in subsequent decades
1980s–1990sModern explorationJessup Gold Prospect identifies additional resources, but no major revival

Conclusion

Jessup’s history is a microcosm of the American West’s mining frontier, characterized by rapid growth, brief prosperity, and swift decline. Founded on the promise of gold and silver, the town’s fortunes were tied to the mines that sustained it. While Jessup’s boom was fleeting, its story endures as a testament to the challenges and opportunities of Nevada’s mining heritage.

Town Summary

NameJessup Nevada
White Canyon, Nevada
LocationChurchill County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude39.948611, -118.875
Elevation4550 Feet
Population300
Post OfficeMarch 1908 – July 1912

Jessup Nevada Trail Map

References

Carrara Nevada – Nye County Ghost Town

Carrara in Nye County Nevada

Carrara Ghost town is a small ghost town and marble mine located about ten miles south of Beatty in Nye County, Nevada on the east side of US 95.

In 1904 first attempts to quarry the high quality marble at the Carrara site. These initial efforts failed with the inability to produce larger slabs from the highly fractured and unstable marble.  More suitable deposits of marble are found in 1911. The American Carrara Marble Company laid out the Carrara town. The town was named for Carrara, Italy, which produced world class marble. 

Origins and Establishment

The story of Carrara began with the discovery of marble deposits in Carrara Canyon, located in the Bare Mountains of Nye County. Initial prospecting in 1904 revealed marble, but the deposits were too fractured for commercial use. In 1911, new discoveries of higher-quality marble prompted the formation of the American Carrara Marble Company, which aimed to establish a major marble industry in the region. The company laid out the Carrara townsite on the valley floor below the quarry, strategically positioned near the Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad to facilitate marble transport. By 1912, a spur line was constructed to connect the town to the nearby Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad, enhancing its accessibility.

Carrara was officially dedicated on May 8, 1913, with a grand celebration that included a ball, music from a Goldfield band, a baseball game, and swimming in the town’s pool. The event marked the town’s ambitious beginnings, with infrastructure such as a post office (established May 24, 1913), a store, a restaurant, a school district, and the modern Hotel Carrara, which boasted electric lights, running water, and telephones by 1914. The town’s population peaked at around 100–150 residents, reflecting optimism about the marble industry’s potential to transform the desert region into a thriving community.

Development and Economic Activity

Carrara’s economy centered on the marble quarry, which was touted as a source of “the world’s best marble.” The American Carrara Marble Company invested heavily in infrastructure to support quarrying operations. A key development was the construction of a three-mile unpowered railway in 1914, using a Lidgerwood cable system to transport marble blocks from the quarry to the townsite for shipment to Los Angeles. The first major shipment of six large marble blocks occurred on April 7, 1914, signaling the quarry’s operational success. The marble was marketed for use in construction and decorative applications, with hopes of competing with Italian imports.

The town’s social and cultural life was documented by the Carrara Obelisk, a weekly newspaper published from May 8, 1913, to September 1916. The newspaper covered local events, quarry progress, and community activities, serving as a promotional tool to attract investors and settlers. Carrara’s infrastructure, including the Hotel Carrara and a town swimming pool, reflected an attempt to create a stable, modern community in the remote desert. The school district catered to the families of quarry workers, and the town’s layout, with concrete foundations for buildings, suggested plans for long-term growth.

Decline and Abandonment

Carrara’s prosperity was short-lived due to the fundamental flaw in its economic foundation: the marble deposits were not as high-quality as initially believed. By 1916, it became clear that the marble was too fractured to yield consistent, large-scale production, undermining the quarry’s viability. The Nevada-California Power Company cut off electricity to the quarry in 1917, halting operations and triggering a rapid decline. The Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad discontinued service in 1918, further isolating the town. As workers and residents left, Carrara’s population dwindled, and the post office closed on September 15, 1924, marking the town’s transition to a ghost town.

The Carrara Obelisk ceased publication in September 1916, unable to sustain itself without a viable community or industry. By the early 1920s, Carrara was largely abandoned, with only concrete foundations, the town fountain, and scattered ruins remaining. The failure of the marble quarry highlighted the challenges of sustaining remote mining towns, particularly when reliant on a single resource with unpredictable quality.

Brief Revival in the Late 1920s

In 1929, a short-lived gold rush at the nearby Gold Ace mine, northwest of Carrara, sparked a brief revival. This activity led to the publication of a new newspaper, the Carrara Miner, on July 11, 1929, aimed at promoting the gold prospects. However, the gold rush was fleeting, and most miners relocated to the nearby camp of Arista. The Carrara Miner likely ceased publication within a year or two, and the gold venture failed to revive Carrara’s economy. A later proposal in the 1940s to build a cement plant using crushed Carrara marble for white cement also failed, further cementing the town’s status as a ghost town.

Legacy

Today, Carrara, Nevada, is a ghost town with minimal physical remnants. The concrete foundations of buildings, the town fountain, and the railroad grades are among the few visible traces of its past. The quarry site in Carrara Canyon, accessible via dirt roads, contains scattered equipment and debris, while the townsite itself is largely reclaimed by the desert. The Carrara Obelisk and Carrara Miner newspapers, preserved in archives such as those at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the Nevada State Library, provide valuable insights into the town’s brief history and the aspirations of its residents.

Carrara’s story is a microcosm of the boom-and-bust cycle that defined many Nevada mining towns. Its ambitious attempt to emulate the Italian city of Carrara was thwarted by geological realities, yet it remains a point of interest for historians, geologists, and ghost town enthusiasts. The town’s history underscores the challenges of sustaining industrial ventures in remote regions and the fleeting optimism that drove early 20th-century mining communities in the American West.

Conclusion

Carrara, Nevada, was a short-lived marble quarrying town founded in 1913 with grand aspirations of becoming a major marble-producing center. Supported by the American Carrara Marble Company, the town developed infrastructure and a community centered on the quarry, documented by the Carrara Obelisk newspaper. However, the fractured nature of the marble deposits led to the quarry’s failure by 1916, triggering Carrara’s rapid decline and abandonment by the early 1920s. A brief gold rush in 1929 and the Carrara Miner newspaper failed to revive the town, and subsequent industrial proposals were unsuccessful. Carrara’s legacy as a ghost town reflects the transient nature of mining ventures in Nye County and serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by communities reliant on single-resource economies in the harsh Nevada desert.

Carrara Town Summary

NameCarrara Nevada
LocationNye County, Nevada
Population 150
Post OfficeMay 5, 1913 – September 15, 2914
NewspapersCarrara Obelisk Feb 7, 1914 – Sept 9, 1916
Carrara Miner July 21, 1929

Carrara Trail Map

Carrara Nevada Newspapers

Carrara Miner Newspaper

The Carrara Miner was a brief newspaper published in Carrara, Nevada, a small ghost town in Nye County located approximately nine miles south of Beatty.…

Carrara Obelisk

The Carrara Obelisk was a short-lived but significant weekly newspaper published in the early 20th century in Carrara, Nevada, a small marble quarrying town located…

Resources

Aurora Nevada – Mineral County Ghost Town

Aurora, Nevada, was a prominent mining boomtown in Mineral County, founded in 1860 during the early silver and gold rushes of the American West. Known for its rich mineral deposits and vibrant community, Aurora briefly flourished as one of Nevada’s most significant early settlements, reaching a peak population of around 5,000 by 1863. However, its prosperity was short-lived, and by the late 19th century, it had become a ghost town. This report examines Aurora’s origins, economic and social development, decline, and historical legacy, drawing on primary sources, historical accounts, and archaeological evidence.

Aurora, CA photograph from the 1930's
Aurora, CA photograph from the 1930’s

Origins and Early Development (1860–1861)

Aurora was established in September 1860 following the discovery of gold and silver in the Esmeralda Mining District by prospectors James M. Braley, William B. Hurd, and James Corey. The trio staked claims in what became known as Esmeralda Gulch, sparking a rush to the area. The town was named “Aurora” after the Roman goddess of dawn, reflecting the optimism of its founders. Its location, straddling the border of Nevada and California (then part of Utah Territory), led to jurisdictional disputes until a survey in 1863 confirmed Aurora’s placement in Nevada.

By 1861, Aurora had grown rapidly, with an estimated population of 1,400. The town’s early development was marked by the establishment of a post office, general stores, saloons, and rudimentary housing. The rich ore deposits, particularly silver, attracted miners, speculators, and entrepreneurs. Early mining operations were labor-intensive, but the high-grade ore justified the effort, laying the foundation for Aurora’s brief prominence.

Peak Prosperity (1862–1864)

Aurora reached its zenith between 1862 and 1864, driven by the productivity of its mines and its role as a regional hub. By 1863, the town’s population swelled to approximately 5,000, with some estimates as high as 6,000. The Esmeralda Mining District boasted over 1,000 mining claims, with major mines like the Real Del Monte, the Wide West, and the Antelope producing significant quantities of silver and gold. Between 1860 and 1869, Aurora’s mines yielded an estimated $27 million in ore (equivalent to over $500 million in 2025 dollars), making it one of Nevada’s most lucrative mining centers at the time.

The town’s infrastructure reflected its prosperity:

  • Civic Institutions: Aurora served as the county seat of Esmeralda County from 1861 to 1863, with a courthouse, jail, and other government buildings. It later became part of Mono County, California, before being reassigned to Mineral County, Nevada.
  • Business and Media: The town supported two newspapers, the Esmeralda Star and the Aurora Times, as well as numerous businesses, including 20 general stores, 65 saloons, and several hotels. A Wells Fargo office facilitated financial transactions.
  • Social Life: Aurora was known for its lively social scene, with theaters, dance halls, and fraternal organizations. The town’s diverse population included miners, merchants, and professionals from across the United States and abroad.
  • Infrastructure: A brick schoolhouse, churches, and a cemetery were established, alongside mills for processing ore. The town’s main street, lined with adobe and wooden buildings, bustled with activity.

Aurora’s prominence was further enhanced by its association with notable figures, including a young Samuel Clemens (later Mark Twain), who briefly mined and wrote for the Esmeralda Star in 1862. His accounts in Roughing It provide a vivid, albeit humorous, glimpse into Aurora’s frontier life.

Aurora, Nevada as it existed in the 1800s
Aurora, Nevada as it existed in the 1800s

Decline and Abandonment (1865–1900)

Aurora’s decline began in the mid-1860s as the richest ore veins were depleted. By 1864, many mines were no longer profitable, and the population began to dwindle. The closure of major mills, such as the one relocated to Columbus, Nevada, in 1866, further eroded the town’s economic base. By 1869, the population had dropped to around 500, and the post office closed in 1897, signaling Aurora’s near abandonment.

Several factors contributed to Aurora’s rapid decline:

  • Resource Depletion: The high-grade ore that fueled Aurora’s boom was exhausted, and lower-grade deposits were uneconomical to mine with existing technology.
  • Economic Shifts: The rise of other mining towns, such as Virginia City and Tonopah, drew investment and labor away from Aurora.
  • Jurisdictional Confusion: The town’s ambiguous status between Nevada and California created legal and administrative challenges, discouraging long-term investment.
  • Natural Challenges: Aurora’s remote location and harsh climate, with limited water and arable land, made sustained habitation difficult.

By the 1880s, Aurora was largely deserted, though sporadic mining attempts persisted. A brief revival in the early 20th century, spurred by new milling technologies, failed to restore the town’s former glory. The final blow came in the 1940s when the last standing structures, including brick buildings, were dismantled for materials to support World War II efforts.

Aurora after 1910, when the town was first connected to electrical power.
Aurora after 1910, when the town was first connected to electrical power.

Archaeological and Historical Significance

Today, Aurora is a ghost town with minimal visible remains. Archaeological surveys have identified foundations, mine tailings, and scattered artifacts, such as bottles and tools, which provide insight into the town’s layout and daily life. The site, located approximately 22 miles southwest of Hawthorne, Nevada, is accessible via rough roads but is largely unmarked, with no official historical marker. The surrounding Esmeralda Mining District remains of interest to historians and geologists for its role in Nevada’s early mining history.

Historical records, including newspapers, mining reports, and personal accounts, are preserved in institutions like the Nevada State Archives and the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley. Works such as Stanley W. Paher’s Nevada Ghost Towns & Mining Camps and Robert E. Stewart’s Aurora: Nevada’s Ghost City of the Dawn offer detailed accounts of Aurora’s rise and fall.

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

Legacy

Aurora, Nevada, encapsulates the fleeting nature of mining boomtowns in the American West. Its rapid growth and equally swift decline highlight the challenges of resource-dependent economies in the 19th century. The town’s contributions to Nevada’s early mining industry, its role in shaping regional development, and its association with figures like Mark Twain ensure its place in historical narratives. Aurora’s story serves as a case study in the boom-and-bust cycles that defined the frontier era, offering lessons on resilience, adaptation, and the impermanence of prosperity.

Today there is not much standing at Aurora
Today there is not much standing at Aurora

In 1863 Aurora is pictured as a cluster of huts made of stone, sheltered by canvas or tin roofs, with streets of wooden buildings , and many substantial brick structures near the center of town, and uncountable tents and dugouts in the surrounding hils. About 5,000 persons lived in these makeshift shelters and in the 700 houses, and enjoyed the services provided by the hotels , churches, 20 stores, 22 saloons and 16 quartz mills .

National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form – July 30, 1974

Conclusion

From its founding in 1860 to its peak in the early 1860s and eventual abandonment, Aurora, Nevada, was a microcosm of the American West’s mining frontier. Its rich mines and vibrant community briefly made it a cornerstone of Nevada’s early history, but its decline underscores the volatility of resource-driven settlements. Though little remains of Aurora today, its legacy endures through historical scholarship, archaeological remnants, and its enduring place in Nevada’s cultural heritage.

Remains of Aurora bricks found deep in the undergrowth.
Remains of Aurora bricks found deep in the undergrowth.

Aurora Town Summary

NameAurora
LocationMineral County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude38.2871421, -118.9006963
GNIS858760
Elevation7400 feet
Post Office – 1919
NewpapersEsmeralda Star May 17, July 5, Sept 20, 1862; Nov 18, Dec 30, 1863
Aurora Daily Times Nov 27, 28, 30, Dec 1, 9, 11, 12, 1863; July 11, Oct 7, 1864
Esmeralda Daily Union Mar 23, 1864 – Mar 15, 1865; Nov 27, 1867 – Oct 3, 1868
Esmeralda Herald Oct 20, 1877 – July 29, 1882; Aug 18, 1883 – Apr 19, 1884
Aurora Borealis Dec 3, 1905

Aurora Trail Map

Aurora Personalities

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

Samuel Langhorne Clemens – “Mark Twain”

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…

Aurora Newspapers

Aurora Borealis Newspaper

The Aurora Borealis newspaper was published in Aurora, Nevada, during the early 20th century. . As a product of a once-thriving mining town, the Aurora…

Aurora Daily Times Newspaper

The Aurora Daily Times newspaper was a short-lived but significant newspaper published in Aurora, Nevada, during the early 1860s, a period marked by the region's…

Esmeralda Daily Union Newspaper

The Esmeralda Daily Union newspaper was a short-lived but significant publication in Aurora, Nevada, during the mid-19th century. Operating in a bustling mining town during…
Esmeralda Star Newspaper

Esmeralda Star Newspaper

Esmeralda Star Newspaper The Esmeralda Star was a pivotal publication in the early history of Aurora, a bustling mining town in Esmeralda County, Nevada, during…

Further Reading

Aurora, Nevada 1860-1960: Mining Camp, Frontier City, Ghost Town

This expanded Second Edition of Aurora, Nevada 1860-1960 chronicles the history of one of Nevada’s earliest and most important mining boomtowns. It is a reference-oriented…
Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps - By Stanley W. Paher

Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps

Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps - By Stanley W. Paher Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps is a wonderful book written by Stanley W.…

Resources

Vanderbilt California – San Bernardino County Ghost Town

A metal headframe marks a vertical shaft in the mining district outside of Vanderbilt California.
A metal headframe marks a vertical shaft in the mining district outside of Vanderbilt California.

Vanderbilt, California, was a fleeting but vibrant gold mining town located in the New York Mountains near the California-Nevada border, approximately 40 miles north of Goffs, California, within what is now the Mojave National Preserve. Existing primarily between 1891 and 1895, Vanderbilt epitomized the boom-and-bust cycle typical of late 19th-century Western mining settlements. Named optimistically after the wealthy Vanderbilt family in hopes of mirroring their fortune, the town’s history reflects the rapid excitement and subsequent abandonment that characterized many gold rush communities.

Old Plumbing remains in the town of Vanderbilt, CA
Old Plumbing remains in the town of Vanderbilt, CA

Discovery and Founding (1891–1892)

The story of Vanderbilt begins in January 1891, when a Native American prospector named Robert Black discovered gold ore on the north slope of the New York Mountains. This initial strike sparked interest, and a small mining camp soon formed near Vanderbilt Spring, a vital water source in the arid region. The camp remained modest until the fall of 1892, when additional gold-rich veins were uncovered, triggering a rush to the area. By January 1893, the settlement had grown to approximately 150 residents, living in a makeshift community of 50 tents, supported by two stores, a saloon, three restaurants, a lodging house, a blacksmith shop, and a stable.

The town’s name, “Vanderbilt,” was chosen to evoke the prosperity of the prominent American industrialist family, signaling the miners’ ambitions for wealth. The discovery of gold in the Gold Bronze, Sagamore, and Boomerang mines fueled optimism, drawing prospectors, merchants, and adventurers to the remote desert location.

Vanderbilt Business District
Vanderbilt Business District

Peak Prosperity (1893–1894)

Virgil Earp 1843 -1905
Virgil Earp 1843 -1905

Vanderbilt reached its zenith in 1894, with a population estimated at around 400 residents. During this period, the town developed into a bustling hub with a well-defined business district. Historical accounts describe a lively community featuring three saloons, two barbers, a Chinese restaurant, two additional eating houses, two meat markets, a stationery and fruit store, one lodging house, two blacksmiths, and three general stores. William McFarlane, a pioneer from nearby Ivanpah, operated one of these stores, which also housed the post office and a drugstore.

A notable figure associated with Vanderbilt was Virgil Earp, the older brother of Wyatt Earp and a survivor of the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. According to Earp family historians, Virgil owned the town’s only two-story building, a combination hotel and saloon. His wife, Allie Earp, later recalled that the structure also hosted church services and dances, suggesting a semblance of community life amid the rough mining environment.

In 1894, two ten-stamp mills were constructed to process ore from the Gold Bronze and Boomerang mines, marking the height of Vanderbilt’s industrial activity. These mills were essential for crushing ore and extracting gold, and their completion signaled the town’s economic peak. However, this prosperity was short-lived, as geological challenges soon emerged.

Decline and Abandonment (1895–Late 1890s)

Vanderbilt’s downfall began almost as quickly as its rise. Around the same time the mills were completed in 1894, miners struck water in the shafts of the principal mines. Flooding rendered the underground operations unworkable, halting gold extraction and undermining the town’s economic foundation. Without a sustainable source of wealth, residents began to abandon Vanderbilt, seeking opportunities elsewhere.

By 1895, the population had dwindled significantly, and the once-thriving town faded into obscurity. The exact date of its complete abandonment is unclear, but by the late 1890s, Vanderbilt had become a ghost town. Its brief existence left little behind beyond scattered mining relics, such as a metal headframe marking a vertical shaft, and remnants of old plumbing, which hint at its former activity.

A horizontal mine shaft in Vanderbilt
A horizontal mine shaft in Vanderbilt

Legacy and Modern Context

Today, Vanderbilt lies within the Mojave National Preserve, a protected area that preserves the region’s natural and historical features. The town’s coordinates are approximately 35°19’38.20″N, 115°14’59.14″W, near the modern gambling hub of Primm, Nevada. While no standing structures remain, the site serves as a testament to the transient nature of mining boomtowns in the American West.

Exploring the ghost town of Vanderbilt, CA
Exploring the ghost town of Vanderbilt, CA

Vanderbilt’s history reflects broader themes of the late 19th-century gold rush: speculative ambition, rapid growth fueled by mineral wealth, and abrupt collapse due to environmental and economic realities. Though short-lived, the town contributed to the lore of the Wild West, with its connection to figures like Virgil Earp adding a layer of historical intrigue.

Vanderbilt, California, encapsulates the ephemeral nature of mining settlements in the American frontier. From its founding in 1891 to its peak in 1894 and its decline by 1895, the town’s trajectory mirrors countless others that rose and fell with the fortunes of the earth. Though little remains of Vanderbilt today, its story endures as a snapshot of a bygone era, preserved in historical records and the stark desert landscape it once briefly animated.

Town Summary

Town NameVanderbilt
LocationSan Bernardino County, California
Latitude, Longitude35.327222, -115.249722
Population500
Elevation4350 Feet
NewspaperThe Shaft
Post OfficeFebruary 1893 – 1910

Vanderbilt Trail Map

Further Reading

Rhyolite Nevada – Nye County Ghost Town

Rhyolite is a ghost town location just outside of the Eastern edge of Death Valley National monument in Nye country, Nevada.  Founded in 1904 by Frank “Shorty” Harris when he discovered quartz with load of “Free Gold”, Rhyolite started as a gold mining camp in the surrounding Bullfrog mining district. As with many discovery’s during this time period, news quickly circulated and the Bullfrog mining district was formed.

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

Assays of $3000 per ton were reported by the mining press of the day, and the fall and winter saw many people converge on the area despite the weather conditions. Tonopah and Goldfield saw hundreds head south in the spring of 1905, and the migration caused “a string of dust a hundred miles long”.

It is an encouraging sign that the Ryolite Jail still stands. Also noteworthy, a brothel crib still stands as well.
It is an encouraging sign that the Ryolite Jail still stands. Also noteworthy, a brothel crib still stands as well.

The townsite of Rhyolite was found in a draw close to the most important mines in February, 1905. To start, the town was a mining camp with tents and canvas walled building. Fuel shortages caused the populous to burn sage brush and greasewood as fuel for their stoves to cook and keep warm. Food and fuel were teamed into the area on daily stages and water was bought over from Beatty for $5 per barrel.

A train caboose as found in Rhyolite, Nevada - Photo by James L Rathbun
A train caboose as found in Rhyolite, Nevada – Photo by James L Rathbun

However, as was common with gold rush towns, Rhyolite quickly developed all of the modern amenities of day, including newspapers, schools, hospitals and electrical power. Six thousand people called the town home in 1907. Luxuries unimaginable just two years before include, hotel rooms with private baths, and opera house, dozens of saloons, four banks, and a butcher shop were brought to the town by three different trains.

The mines of Rhyolite, Nevada operated from 1905 - 1911
The mines of Rhyolite, Nevada operated from 1905 – 1911

Decline and Abandonment

Rhyolite’s prosperity was short-lived. Several factors converged to precipitate its decline. The high-grade ore began to dwindle by 1908, and an independent study commissioned by investors in the Montgomery Shoshone Mine deemed it overvalued, causing stock values to plummet. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake diverted capital to California and disrupted rail service, while the financial panic of 1907 tightened funding for mine development. By 1909, the mine was operating at a loss, closing permanently in March 1911.

As mining activity waned, unemployed miners left for opportunities elsewhere. Businesses failed, and the population dropped to 675 by the 1910 census. All three banks closed that year, followed by the last newspaper in 1912, the post office in 1913, and the final train departure in 1914. In 1916, the Nevada-California Power Company cut electricity and removed its lines, leaving Rhyolite nearly abandoned. By 1920, only 14 residents remained, and the town was fully deserted by 1924 after its last resident’s death. Many buildings were dismantled for materials, relocated to nearby Beatty, or left to crumble in the desert.The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and a financial panic of 1907 dried up capital investment which doomed the town along with many others in the region. Rhyolite ceased to be and closed in 1911.  

“The Last Supper” and other art pieces hold court just outside of Rhyolite

Current Status

Today, Rhyolite is a well-preserved ghost town managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as the Rhyolite Historic Area. Its ruins, including the Cook Bank Building, train depot, and Tom Kelly’s Bottle House, attract visitors and photographers, earning it a reputation as one of the West’s most photographed ghost towns. The bottle house, restored by Paramount Pictures in 1925 for the film The Air Mail and later by locals, remains a standout feature. The nearby Goldwell Open Air Museum, established in 1984 by Belgian artist Albert Szukalski, adds an artistic dimension with sculptures like “The Last Supper,” a haunting plaster rendition of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece.

Rhyolite has also appeared in films and literature, including a mention in Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel Diamonds Are Forever. While vandalism and graffiti have marred some structures, efforts to preserve its historical integrity continue. The site is accessible via a paved road off State Route 374, about 4 miles west of Beatty, offering free public access year-round.

Rhyolite is a wonderful place to visit when you are running Titus Canyon and Leadfield trail.

Geological Context

Rhyolite sits within the Bullfrog Hills, part of the southwestern Nevada volcanic field. The area’s geology features rhyolitic lava flows, formed 13.3 to 7.6 million years ago, overlying Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. These flows, fractured into fault blocks by tectonic activity, host the mineralized veins that spurred the gold rush. The town’s name reflects this geological heritage, derived from the light-colored, felsic volcanic rock dominant in the region.

Rhyolite Town Summary

NameRhyolite
LocationNye County
NewspaperRhyolite Herald May 25, 1905-Apr 26, 1907; Oct 11, 1907-June 22, 1912; Mar 1909 Special Ed
Rhyolite Daily Bulletin Sept 23, 1907 – May 31, 1909
Death Valley Prospector Nov – Dec 1907

Rhyolite Map

Rhyolite Points of Interest

Bullfrog Goldfield Railroad in Rhyolite

Bullfrog Goldfield Railroad

The Bullfrog and Goldfield Railroad, often referred to as the B&G Railroad, played a significant role in the late 19th and early 20th-century mining boom…
Rhyolite, Nevada photo by James L Rathbun

Cook Bank Building

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…
Rhyolite Train Depot is located at the north end of town in Rhyolite, Nye County, Nevada. - Photo by James L Rathbun

Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad

The Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad was a standard gauge railroad which operated along 197 miles between the town of Las Vegas and Goldfield, NV.…
Overbury Building, Rhylote, Nevada. - Photograph by James L Rathbun

Overbury Building

The Overbury building is a general office building built by John Overbury, in Rhyolite, Nye County Nevada in 1906. The building was one of two…
Porter Brothers store front in Phyolite, Nevada - Photo by James L Rathbun

Porter Brothers Store

The Porter Brothers store is a ruined storefront on the main street in the ghost town of Rhyolite, Nye County, Nevada. The Porter Brothers were…
Rhyolite Train Depot is located at the north end of town in Rhyolite, Nye County, Nevada. - Photo by James L Rathbun

Rhyolite Train Depot

The town of Rhyolite boasted three train services using the Rhyolite Train Depot which is completed in June, 1908. The depot services the Las Vegas…

Rhyolite Newspapers

The Bullfrog Miner newspapers published in 1907

Bullfrog Miner

The Bullfrog Miner newspapers published in 1907 The Bullfrog Miner was a weekly newspaper that served the burgeoning mining communities of the Bullfrog Mining District…

Death Valley Prospector

The Death Valley Prospector was a short-lived newspaper published in Rhyolite, Nevada, during the height of the Bullfrog Mining District’s gold rush in the early…

Rhyolite Daily Bulletin

The Rhyolite Daily Bulletin was a newspaper published in Rhyolite, Nevada, during the peak of the Bullfrog Mining District’s gold rush in the early 20th…

The Rhyolite Herald Newspaper

The Rhyolite Herald newspaper was a weekly publication that served as a vital chronicle of life in Rhyolite, Nevada, a booming gold rush town in…

Rhyolite Personalities

Frank "Shorty" Harris

Frank “Shorty” Harris

Frank Harris was a prospector, desert rat and perhaps the best known character in western mining history. He looked the part, often travelling the desert…
James Crysanthus Phelan

James Crysanthus Phelan – Rhyolite Shopkeeper

James Crysanthus Phelan James Crysanthus Phelan was a business man and early pioneer of the desert southwest, who like many others followed the boom towns…
John S Cook overseeing bars of gold bullion. Photo Goldfield Historical Society

John S Cook

John S Cook overseeing bars of gold bullion. Photo Goldfield Historical Society John S Cook is the founder and builder of the Cook Bank Building…
Walter Scott (1872 - 1954)

Walter Edward Perry Scott – “Death Valley Scotty”

Walter Edward Perry Scott  (September 20, 1872 – January 5, 1954), also known as "Death Valley Scotty", was a miner, prospector and conman who operated…

Further Reading

Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps - By Stanley W. Paher

Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps

Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps - By Stanley W. Paher Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps is a wonderful book written by Stanley W.…

Resources