Schellbourne, located in the Schell Creek Range in White Pine County, Nevada, approximately 43 miles north of Ely, is a well-preserved ghost town with a rich history tied to the Shoshone people, the Pony Express, military outposts, and a brief but vibrant mining era. Once a bustling hub along the Central Overland Route and the original Lincoln Highway, Schellbourne’s historical significance is marked by Nevada Historical Marker No. 51 and its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, with boundaries expanded in 1977. This report explores Schellbourne’s evolution from a Native American village to a key stopover in the American West and its eventual decline into a ghost town.
Prehistoric and Native American Roots
Long before European settlers arrived, the Schellbourne area was a Shoshone village site, with the Kusiutta (Goshute) people living in harmony with the harsh Great Basin environment. The Goshute relied on resources like pinyon pine nuts, thriving despite the arid desert and extreme temperatures. Their presence in the region predates recorded history, and their cultural connection to the land persisted through centuries of change. The arrival of trappers and explorers in 1827 disrupted Goshute life, restricting access to traditional hunting and gathering sites and sparking tensions that culminated in a treaty in 1863, establishing reservations for the Skull Valley and Deep Creek Goshute bands.
Early Exploration and the Overland Routes (1859–1861)
In 1859, Captain James Simpson scouted Schellbourne as part of an effort to find a shorter route across the Great Basin. That same year, an Overland Stage and Mail station was established, marking the beginning of Schellbourne’s role as a critical stopover. Named Schell Creek Station, it served George Chorpenning’s Jackass Mail and later became a Pony Express station in 1860. The Pony Express, operational for only 18 months, relied on Schellbourne for mail delivery and stock exchange, with riders like Elijah Nichols “Uncle Nick” Wilson braving dangers such as Paiute raids. In June 1860, after a raid killed the stationmaster and two attendants, the U.S. Army established a small military post, later named Fort Schellbourne after Major A.J. Schell, to protect the stage and mail lines from conflicts with the Newe (Goshute and Western Shoshone) people. The Overland Telegraph arrived in 1861, further cementing Schellbourne’s role as a communication hub. The fort was abandoned in 1862 as tensions with local tribes subsided, and the Overland Stage ceased operations in 1869 after the Central Pacific Railroad’s completion to the north.
The Mining Boom and Bust (1871–1885)
In 1871, prospector James McMahon discovered silver ore in the mountains east of Schellbourne, leading to the creation of the Aurum Mining District. The town, officially named Schellbourne, grew rapidly, boasting a population of over 500 by 1872. The community featured four or five saloons, a Wells Fargo office with heavy steel doors, two law offices, a livery stable, two boarding houses, two restaurants, three stores, and a five-stamp mill. The Schell Creek Prospect newspaper published its first edition in July 1872 but folded within seven months, reflecting the town’s fleeting prosperity. At its peak, nearly 400 residents lived around the old Pony Express station. However, richer silver deposits discovered in nearby Cherry Creek in late 1872 triggered a mass exodus, with mining equipment and buildings relocated across Steptoe Valley. By 1885, the ore was largely depleted, and Schellbourne’s population dwindled to around 50, effectively ending its mining era.
Transition to Ranching and Modern Preservation
After the mining bust, “Uncle Billy” and Eliza Burke acquired the Aurum Mining District and adjacent valley, transforming Schellbourne into a ranch headquarters. The Schellbourne post office, operational from December 1871 to October 1925, served the ranching community. Today, Schellbourne operates as a private ranch, with some original buildings preserved, though many have been razed, to the dismay of local historians. A small cemetery, protected under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, remains near the ruins. The Schellbourne Rest Area on U.S. Highway 93, located four miles west of the original townsite, features interpretive panels and a silhouette of a Pony Express rider, providing visitors with historical context.
Legacy and Historical Significance
Schellbourne’s multifaceted history encapsulates the dynamic changes of the American West in the 19th century. From a Shoshone village to a Pony Express and military outpost, a booming mining camp, and finally a ranching hub, it reflects the region’s economic and cultural shifts. Its designation as Nevada Historical Marker No. 51 and inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places underscore its importance. The site’s connection to the Goshute people, the Pony Express National Historic Trail, and the Lincoln Highway highlights its role as a crossroads of Native American heritage, westward expansion, and early American infrastructure.
Conclusion
Schellbourne, Nevada, stands as a testament to the transient nature of frontier towns, shaped by Native American resilience, the rapid pace of the Pony Express, military protection, and the boom-and-bust cycle of mining. Though now a quiet ghost town on private land, its historical markers and preserved remnants ensure its story endures. Visitors to the Schellbourne Rest Area can glimpse this legacy, connecting the past to the present in the remote Schell Creek Range.
Nevada State Historic Marker 51
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. These roadside markers bring attention to the places, people, and events that make up Nevada’s heritage. They are as diverse as the counties they are located within and range from the typical mining boom and bust town to the largest and most accessible petroglyph sites in Northern Nevada Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost or damaged.
Most of the markers across the state are large blue metal markers. However, there are a variety of other marker styles out there. For this guide they have been simplified into a few categories (blue, blue small, concrete, and stone). Sometimes, the markers are on buildings, fences, or metal stands.
Schellbourne was a mail station and town, located approximately four miles east of this marker in Stage Canyon, nestled in the Schell Creek mountain range. The Pony Express established a mail station and corral there in 1860, providing mail service to the region until 1861, when the Overland Stage company took over the route. A small military post known as Fort Schellbourne joined the station until 1862, protecting the stage line during the conflicts between whites and the Newe (Goshute and Western Shoshone) Indians.
Prospectors discovered silver ore in the mountains immediately to the east of Schellbourne in the early 1870s, and created the Aurum Mining District in 1871. An active mining camp developed with a population of over 500 people. By 1885, the ore had been mostly depleted, with other mining towns like Cherry Creek drawing residents away. The district and adjacent valley were acquired by Uncle Billy” and Eliza Burke as a ranch and hotel. Schellbourne has subsequently operated as the headquarters for various ranches since that time.
STATE HISTORICAL MARKER No. 51
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
WHITE PINE PUBLIC MUSEUM INC.
Nevada State Historic Marker Map
Summary
| Name | Schellbourne |
| Location | White Pine County, Nevada |
| Latitude, Longitude | 39.7969, -114.7419 |
| Nevada State Historic Marker | 51 |
Sources
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- Historical Marker Database. Schellbourne.
- HistoryNet. (2018). Ghost Towns: Schellbourne, Nevada.
- White Pine County NVGenWeb. Schellbourne Nevada History and Photos.
- Historical Marker Database. Schellbourne: Gateway to the Goshute Nation.
- The USGenWeb Project. Schellbourne Nevada History.
- GhostTowns.com. Schellbourne – Nevada Ghost Town.
- Great Basin Heritage Area. Schellbourne Station, Nevada.
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- FortWiki. (2022). Fort Schellbourne.
- YouTube. (2024). Fascinating Story of Schellbourne Nevada: Pony Express, Frontier Fort, Ghost Town, Mining Town.