Nevada Historic Sites and Landmarks Where To Find Them

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Nevada boasts a wealth of historic sites and landmarks. From abandoned mining towns that once thrived on gold and silver to ranches that housed the legendary Pony Express to Indian dwellings, forts, saloons, railroad depots, and historic buildings – the state is dotted with these fascinating relics. If you need a break from the glitz and glamour of the casinos, venture out into the desert and explore Nevada’s rich history. You’ll discover that the state’s historic sites are just as impressive as the modern monuments of Las Vegas.

Ward Charcoal Ovens

Beehive-shaped historic charcoal ovens are located in North East Nevada. The ovens are made of stone quarried from the nearby hills and stand nearly 30 feet high. Charcoal was only made here for a few years. After silver smelters were shut down in nearby Ward, charcoal was unnecessary, and the ovens were abandoned. The beehive ovens have been used as a hideout for stagecoach bandits and a shelter for stockmen and prospectors.

Nevada Northern Railway Museum

Ely has a long history of rail dating back to the early 1900s. Both freight and passenger trains served the area. Like many other areas, rail service declined and finally petered out. A typical visit to the Nevada Northern Railway Museum includes exploring the museum’s grounds, checking out the shops, and taking and taking a ride on a historic steam train.

Fort Churchill State Historic Park

Fort Churchill, Nevada, was built to protect the early settlers. Construction on the fort began in July 1860 and was completed the following year. Fort Churchill was a supply depot for the Union Army during the American Civil War, with as many as 200 soldiers stationed there. Fort Churchill State Historical Park is at 1000 Highway 95A, Silver Springs, Nevada. Fort Churchill is 50 miles North East of Carson City, NV.

Tonopah Nevada Historic Mining Park

Tonopah, Nevada, known as the “Queen of the Silver Camps,” is approximately midway between Las Vegas and Reno. The Tonopah Historic Mining Park is located on old mine dumps on a hillside that overlooks the historic mining town. Covering about 100 acres of the original mining operations in Tonopah, the park is a must-visit for any history enthusiast.

Rhyolite Ghost Town

The town of Rhyolite began in early 1905 as one of several mining camps that sprang up after a prospecting discovery in the surrounding hills. Thousands of gold seekers flocked to the Bullfrog Mining District during an ensuing gold rush. The Bureau of Land Management maintains the Rhyolite historic townsite and is “one of the most photographed ghost towns in the West.”

Goodsprings Pioneer Saloon

Only a short drive from Las Vegas, Goodsprings, Nevada, was once a bustling gold mining town 25 miles southwest of Las Vegas. Today, the main attraction is the Pioneer Saloon, the last remaining bar of a city with seven during the booming mining days. There are several other historic sites in the town. However, most of them are on private property.

Virginia City Nevada

The nation’s largest Historic Landmark. At its peak, Virginia City had gold on every hill, and the men from everywhere made their homes in the shadow of Sun Mountain. Mark Twain served as a reporter for the Territorial Enterprise and began his career in the town.

Lost City Museum

The reconstructed pueblo on the museum grounds is designed to look like the original pueblo that was situated here hundreds of years ago. In 1935, the waters of the newly formed Lake Mead were slowing, covering up the ruins of the Indian pueblos, and a team of archaeologists set out to save the artifacts. The Lost City Museum was built to preserve the remains of this great civilization, which once inhabited the valley.

Mormon Station

Mormon Station State Park is located in Genoa, Nevada. The township was founded in 1850 as the first settlement of the Nevada Territory. Mormon pioneers first settled the area; the region acted as a Mormon station trading post for travelers on the California Trail. Genoa Bar, still open today, was patronized by Teddy Roosevelt and Johnny Cash and was used in John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies.

Belmont Ghost Town

Remains of an 1870s silver mining boomtown. Although the silver mining town of Belmont only prospered for about 20 years, a few notable points of interest exist, including the best-preserved building, the courthouse. This high desert town once had two saloons, restaurants, a post office, a bank, a school, and enough residents to support two newspapers.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park

Ghost towns and million-year-old fossils. The state park is divided into three main sections. A ghost town, a fossil quarry, and a campground. Each is about a mile apart and can be visited by car or hiking trails, which offer picturesque shortcuts. Near the park entrance is the site of Berlin and the Berlin Mill, complete with restored buildings and original artifacts and a self-guided walking trail.

Nelson Ghost Town

Eldorado Canyon in Southern Nevada was a rough and tumbled place in the mid-1880s. At least 12 mining camps were established in the canyon. The mining era lasted about 30 years. Some prospectors found gold. Many found nothing. Today, most Eldorado Canyon visitors take the Techatticup Mine Tour, take a refreshing dip in Lake Mojave, or jump off cliffs. Eldorado Canyon is an easy day trip from Las Vegas that can be made in about one hour.

Gold Point Nevada

Once, Two thousand people thronged the streets, providing the usual saloons, hotels, and stores. Over $ 1,000,000 in gold and silver was extracted from the mines. Today, the population is only about a dozen folks but does reach as high as 400 for special events, such as the Memorial Day Weekend Chili Cook-Off or the annual Day after Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner.

Stokes Castle Historic Landmark

Stokes Castle in Austin, Nevada, is a tower built out of massive granite rock blocks. Mining baron Anson Phelps Stokes built the Castle in 1986. The Castle was designed as a summer residence for only a few months. Soon after the completion of the tower, Anson Stokes sold the nearby mine, the surrounding property, and the Castle.

Thunder Mountain Monument

AKA Chief Rolling Mountain Thunder, Frank Van Zant created Thunder Mountain Monument. The chief used objects he found at a nearby junkyard or picked up discarded objects along the highway to build his monument in the desert. Thunder Mountain is designated a Nevada State Historic Site and a National Monument and is an exciting side trip while traveling along Interstate 80 in Nevada.

Nevada Historic Sites Caliente Railroad Depot

Caliente Railroad Depot is located in southeastern Nevada. Freight trains still pass the historic mission-style station, but there has been no more passenger service since Amtrak pulled out years ago. There is a small boxcar museum next to the station. Caliente was at one time a Union Pacific hub. Halfway between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, they made it an ideal stopover for trains. Union Pacific had a roundhouse and repair facilities for steam locomotives at the east edge of town. When steam locomotives were replaced with diesel in 1940 operations moved to Las Vegas.

Tonopah Mining Park

Tonopah Queen of the Silver Camps is home to the Tonopah Mining Museum. The 100-acre mining park and museum is dedicated to preserving Nevada’s rich mining history. Visitors can roam around and explore the many historic buildings and artifacts. An underground tunnel has been restored where you can look down the shaft into the most productive mine in the Tonopah District. The park also contains the last remaining structure, a trestle, from the Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad. Tonopah Historic Mining Park 110 Burro Ave, Tonopah, NV.

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