Tag: Pahranagat Valley

Crystal Springs, Lincoln County, Nevada is an old watering stop, townsite and Nevada State Historic Marker number 205. The Nevada State Marker is location just west of the junction between Nevada State Highway 93 and Nevada State Highway 375, also known as “The Extraterrestrial Highway.”

Prior to settlement of Crystal Springs in 1865, the springs served as a valuable water source for a nearby Native American village for generations. Beginning in the middle of the 1800s, the site becomes a watering stop for western travelers before traversing the hot desert climates to the south west.

In 1865, silver discovery in the Pahranagat Valley caused the formation of Lincoln County and Crystal Springs is designated the county seat in 1866. Nevada’s first elected governor, Henry G. Blasdel, nearly lost in life in efforts to establish Lincoln County. To reach Pahranagat, the governor travelled to the location by way of Death Valley. This route was not common at the time, the the expedition soon found themselves running low on supplies after passing through Ash Meadows. Lacking the supplies to complete his journey, Blasdel and the State Geologist, a man named White, rushed into Logan City to obtain additional supplies. Blasdel and White organized a wagon train to resupply the expedition foundering in the desert to the south east. One man did die during this expedition, the travelers exist on lizards and other small animals while waiting for a resupply.

When the Blasdel expedition eventually arrived in Crystal Springs, he learned that the town did not have the population of voters to support the organization of Lincoln County Seat. This event happened the following year in Hiko, Nevada. The town of Crystal Springs is only in existence for about five or six years.

Today, the town of Crystal Springs is little more than a footnote in Nevada’s history. No remains of the town exist.

Nevada State Historic Marker Text

Crystal Spring was used as a watering place and campsite on an alternate route of the Mormon Trail in the mid-nineteenth century.  The town site was designated as the provisional County Seat for Lincoln County in 1866.  With the intention of organizing the new county, Governor Henry G. Blasdel left Carson City in April 1866, accompanied by over 20 people.  After a perilous journey through Death Valley, California, they ran out of supplies and food.  One man died; the others survived on lizards and other desert animals.  The Governor and another man raced to Logan City to obtain supplies and returned lathe party so they reached Crystal Spring.  The Governor found that the region lacked the number of voters necessary to meet the requirements to become a county.  A year later the county government was organized at Hiko.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER NO.  205
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

Site Summary

Name	Crystal Springs
Location	Lincoln County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude	37.5317, -115.2338
Elevation	6,161 Feet
GNIS	858593
Nevada State Historic Marker	205

Crystal Springs Trail Map

The Nevada State Marker is location just west of the junction between Nevada State Highway 93 and Nevada State Highway 375, also known as “The Extraterrestrial Highway.” The marker is located on the south side of Highway 375.

References

• Nevada State Historic Preservation Office
• Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps
• Ghosttowns.com

The beautiful Pahranagat Valley is located in Lincoln County, Nevada and Nevada State Historic Marker number 38. Pahranagat Valley, nestled in the vast expanse of Nevada, offers a serene retreat from the bustling cities and a glimpse into the raw beauty of nature.

Pahranagat Valley is situated in southeastern Nevada, approximately 90 miles north of Las Vegas. It spans approximately 40 miles in length and is characterized by a picturesque landscape of rolling hills, lush meadows, and expansive desert plains. The valley is flanked by the towering peaks of the Sheep Range to the east and the imposing Pahranagat Range to the west, creating a dramatic backdrop against the azure sky.

The centerpiece of the valley is the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, a haven for migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge encompasses several natural lakes, including Upper Pahranagat Lake, Middle Pahranagat Lake, and Lower Pahranagat Lake, which serve as vital habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds, and various aquatic species.

The valley is a haven for birdwatchers, with over 260 species of birds recorded within the refuge. Migratory waterfowl such as ducks, geese, and swans flock to the lakes during the winter months, while songbirds and raptors are a common sight year-round. Visitors may also encounter mammals such as mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, and desert bighorn sheep, which roam the rugged terrain.

The regeon holds cultural significance for indigenous communities, including the Southern Paiute people, who have inhabited the region for centuries. The valley provided sustenance in the form of wildlife, plants, and water sources, shaping traditional lifeways and spiritual practices. Today, the Paiute Tribe continues to maintain a connection to the land, participating in conservation efforts and sharing their cultural heritage with visitors.

State Historic Marker Text

Pahranagat Valley is named after a local Shoshone Native American Tribe.  Three local springs fill the valley’s lakes, which farmers have used for irrigation since the mid-nineteenth century.

In the late 1860s, outlaws pastured hundreds of head of stolen cattle in the valley meadows.  

In 1865, ore was discovered in the area.  The following year, a stamp mill was established at Hiko, twenty miles to the north to crush the ore.  Hiko became the center of activity for the valley and the county seat between 1866 and 1871, when local mining declined and Pioche claimed the county seat.

The valley received international notoriety in 1867 when Dan De Quille of the Territorial Enterprise published an article titled “The Rolling Stones of Pahranagat,” about magnetic traveling stones.  De Quille was notorious for publishing comedy and satire, sometimes mistaken by his readership for truth.  In this case, De Quille described these round stones as having a magical quality that, when scattered on the floor, would immediately began travelling toward a common center.  De Quille published similar articles on the stones in 1876, 1879, and 1892.

The town of Alamo before you, established in 1900, is the valley’s largest present-day settlement.  Watered by Pahranagat Creek, the area includes several ranches and the Pahranagat Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER NO.  38
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
LINCOLN COUNTY AREA DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Nevada State Historic Marker Summary

Name	Pahranagat Valley
Location	Lincoln County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude	37.3484, -115.1502
Nevada State Historic Marker	38

Nevada State Historic Marker Map

References

• Nevada State Historic Preservation Office