Tonopah is a ghost town located in Nye County, Nevada. Tonopah is also designated Nevada State History Marker number fifteen. The rock marker is locate just off the highway in a park.
Tonopah, located in Nye County, Nevada, has a fascinating and rich history that traces back to the late 19th century. The town’s beginnings can be pinpointed to the year 1900 when prospector Jim Butler discovered silver-laden ore while in pursuit of his runaway burro. This significant find ignited a mining rush, which ultimately led to the establishment of Tonopah and the creation of numerous mines in the surrounding area. As a result, Tonopah rapidly emerged as one of the most crucial silver mining towns in Nevada, earning the title “Queen of the Silver Camps.”
In 1901, the Tonopah Mining Company was founded, which further propelled the growth of the town and drew in miners, entrepreneurs, and families eager to seek their fortunes. The discovery of gold in the nearby Mizpah Mine in 1904 only contributed to the town’s wealth and success.
By the early 20th century, Tonopah featured a lively downtown area filled with various businesses, hotels, saloons, and residences. The town transformed into a bustling center of activity, with its mines yielding millions of dollars in precious metals.
Tonopah’s importance went beyond its economic contributions. It acted as a crucial stop along the railroad, linking the mining operations in the region to markets nationwide. Moreover, Tonopah played a notable role in Nevada’s history as the location of the state’s first-ever aerial combat mission during World War II, when a Japanese balloon bomb detonated prematurely near the town in 1945.
Nevada State Historic Marker 15
Jim Butler, District Attorney of Nye County, is credited with the turn-of-century discovery, which ended a twenty-year slump in Nevada’s economy. American Indians originally used the name Tonopah for a small spring in the nearby San Antonio Mountains, long before Butler camped in this area in May 1900. Tonopah became the richest silver producer in the nation and replaced Belmont as the Nye County county seat in 1905. The mines spawned a railroad, several huge mills, and a bustling population of approximately 10,000.
The mines faltered in the 1920s, but Tonopah achieved long-lasting fame because of the prominent financial and political leaders it produced. Many camps and communities followed in the wake of Tonopah’s boom, most of which have become ghost towns.
NEVADA CENTENNIAL MARKER No. 15
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
Tonopah Marker Summary
| Nevada State Histori Marker | 15 |
| Name | Tonopah |
| Location | Nye County, Nevada |
| Latitude, Longitude | 38.0670, -117.2291 |
Articles Related to Tonopah
 John S CookJohn S Cook overseeing bars of gold bullion. Photo Goldfield Historical Society John S Cook is the founder and builder of the Cook Bank Building… |
 Las Vegas and Tonopah RailroadThe Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad was a standard gauge railroad which operated along 197 miles between the town of Las Vegas and Goldfield, NV.… |
 Tonopah and Tidewater RailroadExplorers of the Mojave Desert in southern California are bound to have heard the stories of the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad. The Tonopah and Tidewater… |