Big Bear, CA
I quiet mountain community full of back country adventure.
Jedediah Strong Smith – Nevada State Historic Marker 84
Jebediah Strong Smith was an early frontiersman, hunter, trapper, author, cartographer, mountain man and explorer of the western United States and the subject of Nevada State Historic Marker number 84.
Born in 1799 in Jericho, New York, Jedediah Strong Smith would grow up to become one of the most significant figures in the exploration of the American West during the early 19th century. His life was a testament to the indomitable spirit of discovery that characterized the era of westward expansion.
From a young age, Jebediah Smith exhibited an insatiable curiosity and an adventurous spirit that set him apart from his peers. Raised in a family of modest means, he received only limited formal education. However, his voracious appetite for learning and his natural inclination for exploration propelled him beyond the confines of the classroom.
Fur Trapping and the Path to the West
At the age of 21, Smith embarked on his first western expedition as a fur trapper, a career choice that would shape the course of his life. He joined the Rocky Mountain Fur Company and ventured into the untamed wilderness of the Rocky Mountains, determined to carve his own path in uncharted territories. His experiences during this period honed his survival skills and deepened his connection to the natural world.
The First Overland Expedition to California:
In 1826, Smith led a pioneering expedition that would take him and his small band of explorers on an arduous journey from the Great Salt Lake to California. This remarkable feat marked the first documented overland journey from the United States into California. Smith’s exploration helped to map previously unknown regions and establish crucial trade routes.
Mapping the West and Bridging Cultures
Jebediah Smith’s exploration efforts were not limited to geography alone. His interactions with various Native American tribes and his ability to communicate across cultural divides showcased his adaptability and diplomacy. He valued the knowledge and insights of the indigenous peoples he encountered, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the American West.
Jebediah Strong Smith’s legacy is imprinted on the landscapes he traversed and the narratives he helped to shape. His meticulous journaling and mapping laid the groundwork for further expeditions, encouraging subsequent generations of explorers to continue pushing the boundaries of the known world. Smith’s untimely death at the hands of Comanche warriors in 1831, at the age of 32, underscored the risks and sacrifices inherent in his chosen path.
Jebediah Strong Smith’s life epitomized the restless spirit of exploration that defined the era of westward expansion in the United States. His contributions to mapping the American West, fostering cross-cultural connections, and inspiring future adventurers are enduring testaments to his remarkable journey. As a trailblazer who ventured into the unknown with courage and determination, Smith’s legacy continues to inspire individuals to seek new horizons and embrace the thrill of discovery.
Jedediah Strong Smith Nevada State Historic Marker 84 Text
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.
From May to June 1827, explorer and trapper Jedediah Smith found a route from California’s central valley to the Great Salt Lake Valley in Utah. He became the first European American to completely cross what is now Nevada.
Because Smith’s journal and map have never been found, his exact route is unknown. Based on Smith’s own statements about his difficult trip, modern historians and geographers have pieced together the most plausible route. Smith crossed the Sierra Nevada at Ebbetts Pass, swung southeast along or across the headwaters and middle reaches of the Walker River, and passed into central Nevada’s open spaces south of Walker Lake.
Smith entered Smoky Valley on its southwest side in June 1827 and crossed the valley in a northeasterly direction. He then paralleled the future Simpson survey, route of the Pony Express and Overland Stage, along modern U.S. Highway 50.
He entered Utah at Ibapah.
STATE HISTORICAL MARKER NO. 84
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
WHITE PINE PUBLIC MUSEUM, INC.
Nevada State Historic Marker 84 Map
Nevada State Historic Marker number 84 is located near Ely, Nevada, in White Pine County. The marker is on U.S. Highway 93, on the east side of the highway. It is found in rest area, four miles north of Ely.
Nevada State Historic Marker 84 Summary
| Named | Jedediah Strong Smith |
| Location | White Pine County, Nevada |
| Latitude, Longitude | 39.2771, -114.8463 |
| Nevada State Historic Marker | 84 |
References
Pioche – Nevada State Historic Marker 5
Pioche, Nevada is a silver mining town and Nevada State Historic Marker 5 located in Lincoln County, Nevada. Pioche was founded in 1864, during the height of the American Civil War. The town’s name is derived from François Louis Alfred Pioche, a Frenchman who was a prominent financier in the mining industry. Pioche’s location was strategic, situated in eastern Nevada near the Utah border. The discovery of silver and other minerals in the nearby mountains led to a rapid influx of miners and settlers.
Silver Boom
The town’s initial growth was driven by the discovery of silver deposits in the surrounding hills. The rich ore deposits attracted prospectors and mining companies, leading to a significant boom in silver production during the late 1860s and early 1870s. Pioche became a bustling mining town with saloons, businesses, and a diverse population.
Turbulent Times
Pioche’s prosperity was not without its challenges. The town faced lawlessness and violence typical of many mining settlements during that era. Shootouts, brawls, and clashes between different groups were not uncommon. The presence of rowdy elements earned Pioche the nickname “The Baddest Town in the West.” The local cemetery, Boot Hill, serves as a somber reminder of the violence that marked the town’s early days.
Mining Decline and Resilience
Like many mining towns, Pioche experienced a decline in silver production as the richest deposits were exhausted. By the late 1870s, the boom had faded, leading to a significant decrease in population. However, Pioche managed to survive by diversifying its economy. Agriculture and ranching became important components of the local economy, helping the town weather the decline in mining activity.
In the 20th century, Pioche’s population continued to fluctuate as mining activities occasionally experienced brief revivals. The town’s historic charm and mining heritage began to attract tourists, contributing to its economy. Pioche’s well-preserved historic buildings and its status as a relic of the Old West drew visitors interested in its colorful past.
Today, Pioche remains a small community with a population that hovers around several hundred residents. The town’s history is celebrated through events, museums, and historic sites that showcase its mining heritage and the challenges its early settlers faced. Pioche’s quiet streets and preserved architecture stand as a testament to its enduring spirit and the importance of adapting to changing economic circumstances.
Nevada State Historic Marker 5 Text
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.
Silver ore was discovered in this range of mountains in 1864, but no important development took place until 1869 when mines were opened and the town of Pioche was founded. Pioche soon became the scene of a wild rush of prospectors and fortune seekers. It gained a reputation in the 1870s for tough gunmen and bitter lawsuits. Miners had retrieved over five million dollars in ore by 1872, but by 1900, Pioche was nearly a ghost town.
Designated as the seat of Lincoln County in 1871, Pioche survived hard times as a supply and government center for a vast area. Beginning in 1937, Pioche enjoyed two decades of profitable lead-zinc mining.
CENTENNIAL MARKER No. 5
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
Pioche Trail Map
Pioche Summary
table
| Name | Pioche |
| Location | Lincoln County, Nevada |
| Latitude, Longitude | 37.9265, -114.4487 |
| Nevada State Historic Marker Number | 5 |
References
West End of Hastings Cutoff – Nevada State Historic Marker 3
The West End of Hastings Cutoff is Nevada State Historic Marker number 3 and located on Interstate 80 in Elko County, Nevada.
Perhaps to most notorious story in the western expansion of the United States is that of the Donner Party. The Donner party was a wagon train which was bound for California, when running behind schedule, the became snow bound in the High Sierras. Notoriously, after several weeks of starvation they fell into despair and cannibalism.
One of the reasons the Donner Party was behind schedule is their use of the Hastings Cutoff, which a short cut along the California Trail. The route was not any shorter and dramatically more difficult and cost a lot of valuable lost time for the party. Following the Donner Party, and Hastings Cutoff soon goes unused and becomes a footnote to one of the most notorious tragedy’s of the west.
Nevada State Historic Marker 3 Text
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.
Across the Humboldt Valley southward from this point a deeply incised canyon opens into a valley. Through that canyon along the South Fork of the Humboldt River ran the disaster-laden route called the Hastings Cutoff. It joined the regular Fort Hall route running on both sides of the Humboldt here.
The canyon was first traversed in 1841 by the Bartleson-Bidwell Party, the earliest organized California emigrant group. In 1846, Lansford Hastings guided a party through this defile of the South Fork and out along the Humboldt. The ill-fated Reed Donner Party followed later the same year.
By 1850, the dangers of the cutoff route were recognized and it was abandoned.
CENTENNIAL MARKER No. 3
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
West End of Hastings Cutoff Marker Summary
| Name | West End of Hastings Cutoff |
| Location | Elko County, Nevada |
| Longitude, Latitude | 40.7661, -115.9198 |
| Nevada State Historic Marker | 3 |
West End of Hastings Cutoff Trail Map
References
Pioneer Memorial Park – Nevada State Historical Marker 2
The Pioneer Memorial Park is Nevada Centennial Marker No. 2, installed in 1964 as part of Nevada’s celebration of its 100th anniversary of statehood and the beginning of the Nevada Historical Marker Program. The Marker is a monument for the men and women buried at the location and some of the earliest settlers of Nevada starting in 1863.
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.
Nevada State Historic Marker 2 Text
This part of the Pioneer Cemetery includes the last resting place of Frank Baud and other of the pioneers who founded Winnemucca, earlier known as French Ford. Baud arrived in 1863 and is one of the men credited with naming the town Winnemucca after the famous Northern Paiute chieftain.
Baud came with Louis Lay from California to work on the Humboldt canal, a project headed by Dr. A. Gintz and Joseph Ginaca who devised the plan to link Golconda and Mill City by means of a 90-mile canal and provide water for the mills in the area. It was never completed. Baud later became a merchant, helped build the Winnemucca Hotel with Louis and Theophile Lay, was the first postmaster, and gave the town a schoolhouse before his death in 1868.
CENTENNIAL MARKER No. 2
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
Nevada State Historic Marker 2 Trail Map
Nevada State Historic Marker 2 Summary
| Name | Pioneer Memorial Park |
| Location | Pioneer Memorial Park, Winnemucca Humboldt County, Nevada |
| Latitude, Longitude | 40.9787, -117.7419 |
| Nevada State Historic Marker | 2 |
References
Empire and the Carson River Mills – Nevada State Historic Marker
The Empire and the Carson River Mills is Nevada Start Historic Monument number one, located near Carson City, Nevada. Following the discovery of the Comstock Lode, and the volume of silver ore produce the the mine, the region enjoy an influx and captial and people to work the mine. Part of the task at hand is the building of mills to process the ore.
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.
Nevada State Historic Marker Text
When the Comstock Lode was discovered in 1859, the problem of reducing the ore from the fabulously rich Virginia City mines had to be solved. Mills were built in Gold Canyon and Six Mile Canyon, in Washoe Valley, at Dayton, and on the Carson River which offered the most abundant source of water to operate the mills.
On the east shore of the river near the town of Empire the first small mill, built in 1860, was later enlarged to become the Mexican. The site of this mill lies to the southwest. Other large mills were then constructed farther downstream, spurring the growth of the town of Empire. Ore was hauled to the mills at first by wagon and later by the famous Virginia and Truckee Railroad built in 1869. Fortunes in gold and silver were produced in over 40 years of operation by the Carson River mills including the Mexican, Yellow Jacket, Brunswick, Merrimac, Vivian, and Santiago. Traces of Empire and its mills can still be seen today.
CENTENNIAL MARKER No. 1
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
Empire and the Carson River Mills Marker Summary
| Name | Empire and the Carson River Mills |
| Location | Carson City, Nevada |
| Latitude, Longitude | 39.1873, -119.7063 |
| Nevada State Historic Marker | 1 |