Historical Markers of Elko County


Nevada Landmarks Home Page

*HM 260*


-- Contact --

Location: Northern Elko County, Salmon Falls Creek, Contact
Directions: Along US 93, 52 miles N of Wells
(At the junction of US 93 and the road to Contact)

Location: 5
Visibility: 1
Accessibility: 1
Marker type: Other
   

Date Conquered: 5/14/08
Nearest Intersection: BLM road to Contact
Quick Description: A marker remembering the short-lived mining camp of Contact.
Signed: No -- Historically, this marker was signed. (No signs exist today.)

The old remains of Contact lie just up this road. However, the Contact mine is being worked today, so venturing up there to take a look is probably frowned upon -- especially by the few Contact locals.

Full Description:
Exact description as reads...

In the 1870s gold was mined in Contact, and a five-ton smelter, built in Contact, ceased functioning after three test runs. But with a renewal of mining in 1905, Contact was laid out below the older camp in a more favorable location near the Salmon Falls River. Businesses were established including a hotel, several saloons, and a store. The weekly Contact Miner provided a voice beginning in 1913. During WWI a large amount of copper was mined.

The Union Pacific Railroad built the Oregon Short Line which ran nearby in 1926. Mining resumed. In 1928-1930 Contact had a population of 260 people, saloons, a hotel, post office, school, electric power and a water system was brought to camp in anticipation of a large mining expansion. But a depressed copper market shelved the camp's dreams of permanence.

Thereafter Contact was relocated on U.S. 93 and became a tourist stop.

I disagree with the last line of the text.
From the look of this photo, Contact definitely didn't "become a tourist stop!"

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