Historical Markers of Clark County
- HM 6 - El Dorado Canyon
- HM 31 - Old Spanish Trail (1829-1850)
- HM 32 - Old Spanish Trail (1829-1850)
- HM 33 - Old Spanish Trail (1829-1850)
- HM 34 - Old Spanish Trail (1829-1850)
- HM 35 - Las Vegas Mormon Fort and Rancho (Nevada's Oldest Building)
- HM 36 - Moapa Valley
- HM 37 - Powell of the Colorado
- HM 40 - Las Vegas (The Meadows)
- HM 41 - Pueblo Grande de Nevada
- HM 56 - Virgin Valley
- HM 86 - Tule Springs (Archeological Site)
- HM 102 - Goodsprings (Mining District 1856-1957)
- HM 103 - Gypsum Cave
- HM 104 - The Camel Corps
- HM 115 - Potosi
- HM 116 - Searchlight
- HM 139 - Old Spanish Trail (Journey of Death)
- HM 140 - Old Spanish Trail (Garces Expedition)
- HM 141 - Old Spanish Trail (Armijo's Route)
- HM 142 - Old Spanish Trail (Mountain Springs Pass)
- HM 150 - Nevada's First State Park
- HM 168 - Arrowhead Trail (1914-1924)
- HM 188 - Von Schmidt State Boundary Monument
- HM 190 - Original Homesite of Pioneer Las Vegas, "Pop" Squires (1865-1958)
- HM 195 - The Last Spike
- HM 197 - Arrowhead Trail II
- HM 214 - Rafael Rivera
- HM 224 - Kyle (Kiel) Ranch
Nevada Landmarks Home Page
*HM 115*
-- Potosi --
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Location: Western Clark County, Mountain Springs Pass
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Date Conquered: 3/14/09
Quick Description: A marker remembering one of the first mining camps in Nevada!
Signed: No -- Historically, this marker was signed. However, it wouldn't surprise me if somebody boiled around that curve too fast and ran into it. (No signs exist today.)
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NOTES: This marker should come with liability papers... if not, at least have a posted disclaimer! The truth is, #115 is one of the most dangerous markers to access! Although the SHPO did a great job in choosing the marker's location, #115 is almost impossible to see from the road, and more importantly, even more when turning off to view the darned thing. SR 160 from Blue Diamond to Mountain Springs has an endless-overwhelming array of traffic, mostly dominated by a bunch of throwbacks who couldn't give a damn about something like #115. In any case, this is the reason for the marker's high "accessibility" rating. Please, read this very carefully: #115 is located on the eastbound side of 160. Your ONLY indicator is to look for a sign that reads "Mt. Potosi-Canyon Rd". If you pass the marker headed in either direction, it's a long way to turn back around! If you're headed eastbound, be extremely careful when making the turn. This marker hunter was nearly rear-ended by a maniac going 70MPH despite me having my blinker on. Please take extreme caution on this highway! People down here don't expect marker hunters like us to be on a leisurely stroll.
Full Description:
The desire of the Mormon settlements for economic self-sufficiency led to mining by missionaries for lead. In 1856 Nathaniel V. Jones was sent to recover ore from the "Mountain of Lead" 30 miles southwest of the mission at Las Vegas Springs. About 9,000 pounds were recovered before smelting difficulties forced the remote mine to be abandoned in 1857. Potosi became the first abandoned mine in Nevada.
In 1861 California mining interests reopened the mine, and a smelter and rock cabins of 100 busy miners made up the mining camp of Potosi. Even more extensive operations resulted after the transcontinental Salt Lake and San Pedro R.R. (now Union Pacific) was built through the county in 1905.
During World War I, Potosi was an important source of zinc.
Exact description as reads...
