Category: Destination4x4

Galena Nevada – Lander County Ghost Town

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Galena Nevada was a silver mining from 1869 to 1907 and currently a ghost town located just just a west of highway 305 south of Battle Mountain, in Lander County, Nevada. The discovery of Silver at the head of Galena Canyon first lead miners in the area in 1863. Following the silver discovery three years later, in 1866, a mining camp forms to prospect the land.

Galena Nevada in the 1960's - Paher
Galena Nevada in the 1960’s – Paher

In 1869, the townsite of Galena is plotted and originally located in Humboldt County. Daily stage service from nearby Battle Mountain delivered peoples and supplies to the small town. The town grew in size and citizens by the month. The town boasts a park plaza, water system, public hall, schools, and a post office is started in 1732.

Within the boundary of Humboldt County, the towns fortunes could have been secured, however it lost the battle for county seat to Winnemucca. A court house is planned within the town to seat this honor.

After 1875, the town of several hundred people began to succumb to reality as production slowed. In 1874, plans for the court house are abandoned when the Galena Range is ceded to Lander County. By 1886, the French Mining Company took over the mines and later halted development. After the post office closed, there was mining activity in Galena starting around World War I and sporadically into the 1960’s

Town Summary

NameGalena Nevada
LocationLander County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude40.564, -117.13
GNIS854456
Elevation1877 meters / 6158 feet
PopulationSeveral Hundred
Post OfficeJune 2, 1871 – March 1873 [Humboldt Co.]
March 1873 – May 27, 1887 [Lander Co.]
As “Blanco” – October 11, 1888 – November 15, 1907

Galena Trail Map

References

Delamar NSHM Nevada State Historic Marker #90

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Delamar NSHM is Nevada State Historical Marker number ninety seven and is located in Lincoln County, Nevada. Nicknamed “The Widowmaker”, Delamar, Nevada is a ghost town and gold mining town in Monkeywrench Wash, Lincoln County, Nevada. Prospectors and Farmers from Pahranagat, John Fergusen and Joseph Sharp officially discovered gold in 1889 around Monkeywrench Wash. This event lead to the founding of the Fergusen Mining District and a camp of that name was established. Initial assays ranged from $75 to $1000 per ton of gold ore. This was more than enough to attract the attention of investors.

Delamar mill and tailings in foreground. Hog Pen, the opening to the Delamar mine, is in the background high up on the mountain - Unknown photographer - Stanley W. Paher, Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, (1970), Howell North, p299, Ashley Cook Collection
Delamar mill and tailings in foreground. Hog Pen, the opening to the Delamar mine, is in the background high up on the mountain – Unknown photographer – Stanley W. Paher, Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, (1970), Howell North, p299, Ashley Cook Collection

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.

Gold was discovered here in 1889. This isolated, treeless metropolis of over 1,500 residents, had a newspaper, hospital, school, churches, saloons and a stockbroker. Entertainment included brass bands, dance orchestras and stage attractions at the Opera House.

Water came from Meadow Valley Wash, 12 miles away. All other materials were hauled through the mountains by mule team 150 miles from a railroad head at Milford, Utah. For 16 years, most of the bullion was hauled out in the same manner.

The dry milling processes used prior to the introduction of wet methods created a fine silicon or “death” dust which caused the deaths of many residents and gave the town its nickname.

Delamar produced $15,000,000 in gold and was Nevada’s leading producer of that decade.

NEVADA HISTORIC MARKER #90

Delamar NSHM Map

Delamar NSHM Summary

Nevada State Historic Marker90
NameDelamar “The Widow Maker”, Nevada
LocationLincoln County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude37.6207, -114.7839

References

Manhattan Nevada State Historic Marker #97

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Manhattan Nevada is Nevada State Historical Marker number ninety seven and is located in Nye County, Nevada.

The town is originally founded in 1867 as part of a silver mining boom. The district abandoned in 1871. In 1905 a boom in gold mining activity brought over 4,000 people into the area. The Nye and Ormsby County Bank, the only stone structure to be built in the town, was erected in 1906. In 1906, the San Francisco earthquake literally shocked the region. The depression of 1907 tooked hold over investment capital and Manhattan faltered along with other gold mining towns including Rhyolite, Nevada.

Manhattan Nevada 1906
Manhattan Nevada 1906

The town on Manhattan saw a resurgance in 1909 and the population of 800 to 1000 people and their town matured into great little town. Local mines produced Gold, Silver and Copper, while Frank Garside published a weekly newspapper, the Post. The town continued its mining operations, including a gold dredge.

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.

A Manhattan Mining District to the northeast was first organized in 1867, and some tunnel mining was done. The place name persisted in local use and was adopted in 1905 when John Humphrey found gold at the foot of “April Fool Hill,” near the old stage route. A typical boom followed. A post office was started late in 1905, and the camp soon had telegraph, telephone, utilities and businesses. Transport was to Tonopah and the railroad at Sodaville.

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake stopped mining investment. As a result, most of the productive work here was by lessees. The gold strikes were in ore and placer, and by 1909 there were 13 mines and 16 placers. Some of the operations were the Big Four, Litigation Hill Merger, Stray Dog, September Fraction and White Caps. Hydraulic placering started in 1909. In 1938, dredging began, continuing 13 years. Over $10,000,000 was produced.

“Manhattan always was a good camp.”

NEVADA STATE HISTORIC MARKER #97

Manhattan NSHM Map

Manhattan NSHM Summary

Nevada State Historic Marker 97
NameManhattan, Nevada
LocationNye County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude38.5707, -117.1816

References

Candelaria and Metallic City NSHM Marker #92

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Candelaria and Metallic City NSHM is Nevada State Historical Marker number ninety two and is located in Mineral County, Nevada.

Main street buildings of Candelaria, probably in the early 1880s - Candelaria and Metallic City
Main street buildings of Candelaria, probably in the early 1880s

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.

Seven miles to the west lie the ghost towns of Candelaria and Metallic City.

Candelaria was presumably named after a mine of that name located in 1885, and also after the Catholic Candlemas Day. Metallic City, the “sin city” of Candelaria, and also known as Pickhandle Gulch, lies 3/4 mile to the south Candelaria. The name, pickhandle, was derived from the most popular weapon used for settling disputes.

In 1880, Candelaria was the largest town in the immediate area and boasted of having 3 doctors, 3 lawyers, 2 hotels, 6 stores and 10 saloons. Water piped from Trail Canyon in 1882 caused the price of water to drop from $1.00 to $0.05 per gallon.

The leading mine, the Northern Belle, was first located in 1864 (relocated in 1870). It is reported to have produced an estimated $7 million, mainly in silver.

NEVADA STATE HISTORIC MARKER #92

Nevada State Historic Marker Map

Ghost Town Summary

ID92
NameCandelaria and Metallic City, Nevada
LocationMineral County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude38.2080, -118.0011

References

Goodsprings Nevada State Historic Marker #102

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Goodsprings NSHM 20 is Nevada State Historical Marker number one hundred and two and is located in Clark County, Nevada.

Goodsprings, Nevada - 1924
Goodsprings, Nevada – 1924

Goodsprings, Nevada, nestled in the picturesque foothills of the Spring Mountains, exudes the charm of a quaint desert town rich in history and rugged beauty. Its rustic buildings, some dating back to the late 19th century, evoke a sense of nostalgia, while its surrounding desert landscape offers breathtaking vistas and opportunities for outdoor adventures. Once a thriving mining community, Goodsprings retains its old-west character with saloons and historic landmarks like the Pioneer Saloon, known for its bullet-riddled walls and tales of Wild West lore. Today, visitors can explore the town’s heritage through its museums, enjoy hiking and off-roading in the nearby wilderness, or simply savor the tranquility of this hidden gem in the Nevada desert.

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 Text

Ore deposits readily recognized in the faulted and folded limestone deposits of this district remained unworked until 1856, when the Mormons developed a single lead mine at Potosi–probably the oldest lode mine in Nevada.

Named for cattleman Joseph Good, the open springs area was developed into the mining-ranching community of Goodsprings by A.G. Campbell.

With completion of the Los Angeles-Salt Lake Railroad in 1905 and the narrow-gauge Yellow Pine Railroad from Jean to Goodsprings in 1911, transportation costs of the oxidized zinc minerals were reduced. The peak year of operations was reached in 1916, and Goodsprings then had 800 residents.

This district, with the greatest variety of valuable minerals in Nevada, produced a total of $25 million primarily in lead and zinc, with lesser amounts of gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, vanadium, nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium and uranium.

Nevada Historic Marker #102

Goodsprings Map

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Goodprings NSHM Summary

ID102
NameGoodsprings Nevada
LocationNye County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude35.8323,-115.4345

References