Sand Mountain
Location: Central Churchill County, Sand Mountain District
Directions: Along US 50, 20 miles east of Fallon.
N39° 16' 30.5" W118° 24' 48.2"
Location: 4
Visibility: 1
Accessibility: 1
Marker type: St (L)
Date Conquered: 7/12/07
Nearest intersection: BLM Road to Sand Mountain
Quick Description: A marker noting Sand Mountain's role in Paiute legend and during the great Pony Express.
Signed: Yes -- Signed on both lanes of US 50.
Marker History: #10 was one of Nevada's oldest historic markers, originally erected in 1970 as a "Stone" marker. As of the mid 1990's, #10 had shown the neglect of passersby and visitors. As a result, the marker was removed only to be re-erected in 1997 using the Standard-type. The future was looking optimistic for this marker until its sudden disappearance in 2009!
Full Description:
Exact description as reads ...
Sand Mountain, dominating Salt Wells Basin, is a prominent landmark in Nevada's early history. The Northern Paiute know it as Kwazi, the name of the snake that inhabits the dune, its backbone forming the crest of the mountain. Captain James H. Simpson of the Army Corps of Topographical Engineers surveyed the Central Overland Wagon Road through here in 1859. The following year, the Pony Express followed Simpson's alignment and the Sand Springs Pony Express Station was established less than a mile to the northwest. Sir Richard Burton visited the station in 1860, marveling at the "hourglass" shape of the dune. The station, abandoned and covered by a dune, was re-exposed in 1976 by archaeologists investigating life at the station.
Sand Mountain today is THE place to ATV and sandboard in Nevada. Cool autumn days like this one, make this austere place, a rather rowdy and crowded one.
Sadly, as of September 2009, this great Nevada icon is now gone!
- Conquered, 'Late Removal' -
Date of Disappearance: 10/2009
Status: This marker is a true loss for all Nevadans. Everybody's beloved and favorite place for desert riding has been de-flowered by the sad and pathetic removal of its marker. In addition, the famed "Loneliest Phone on the Loneliest Phone" was also stolen by what could be a few heartless idiots. According to the information I've gathered, this marker was hit by a trailer sometime in September of 2009. At this time, #10 was already in bad shape and it would not take much for the legs to have given way. However, instead of leaving the marker where it lied, the marker was taken. By whom, research isn't quite sure. #10 may have found its way to a local junkyard by the perpetraitors, or NDOT may have driven by and gathered up what was left of the poor marker. This simple fact separates this case from being an accidental marker death, to a case of possible perpetrated vandalism! This incident also coincides with the disappearance of the "Loneliest Phone." It is unclear whether these vandals stole the phone too, but it is natural to link both of these disappearances together considering both the phone and marker were removed during the same month. If for some reason #10 survived its ordeal, NDOT's process of remaking the marker would be at least a six-month project, but would guarantee the marker's safety and possible re-erection! However, with state budget cuts and a now-defunct marker system, #10 will most likely remain gone simply because of the sheer cost it takes to completely remake a whole new marker.
More information will be updated once I locate #10's true whereabouts. Until then, this marker makes its new home among our list of MIAs. In the meantime, pay your respects to this misshapen marker should you happen to find yourself wandering past the road to Sand Mountain. As always, if you happen to find out any more information in regards to this marker, please
let me know
