Historical Markers of Esmeralda County
Location: Central Esmeralda County, Clayton Valley Directions: Along SR 265, 2 miles north of Silver Peak
Date Conquered: 7/14/08 Quick Description: A unique marker remembering the discovery of an "accidental" mining camp. Signed: Yes -- Original cut-out shield! Severely faded, signed on southbound lane of SR 265 only. NOTES: #174 lies a fairly good distance away from the beaten path of US 95. The problem isn't so much in miles from 95, but rather the remoteness of the general area. To find this one, you need to divert away from US 95 onto SR 265; the surprise is, you won't find a sign telling you it's a 40 mile round trip to Silver Peak. Make sure you have plenty of gas before making this drive. This is one area of Nevada in which you don't want to break down. The lonely drive to #174, Blair. Coasting down SR 265 and some unmarked mileage to Blair. At last! Blair ready for conquering. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... Mining fever in the Tonopah boom reached out in all directions and revived many dormant mining towns. Land speculators at nearby Silver Peak bought up the land in that area and jacked the land prices so high that the 100-stamp mill planned at Silver Peak was built 1 ½ miles west of here to become the hub of Blair. The Pittsburg-Silver Peak Gold Mining Company built the 17 ½-mile Silver Peak Railroad running north in 1906 and the big mill (Nevada's largest in its day) in 1907. The remnants of stone buildings and mill foundations are the only remains of a once-thriving, but short-lived, mining town. By 1920, Blair was all but deserted. A great shot showing the inhospitability of Esmeralda County. Here's the interesting part... We remember Blair very well, because it was the place where we found a most curious, and downright awesome discovery. A rare find in the desert -- a fully-intact deer skull complete with antlers and some leftover hide! We presumed it was attacked by coyotes. The skull now sits on our mantle at home, reminding us of the great wonders to be found in the Nevada desert. How's that for lucky finds?!
NOTES: #174 lies a fairly good distance away from the beaten path of US 95. The problem isn't so much in miles from 95, but rather the remoteness of the general area. To find this one, you need to divert away from US 95 onto SR 265; the surprise is, you won't find a sign telling you it's a 40 mile round trip to Silver Peak. Make sure you have plenty of gas before making this drive. This is one area of Nevada in which you don't want to break down. The lonely drive to #174, Blair. Coasting down SR 265 and some unmarked mileage to Blair. At last! Blair ready for conquering. Full Description: Exact description as reads ... Mining fever in the Tonopah boom reached out in all directions and revived many dormant mining towns. Land speculators at nearby Silver Peak bought up the land in that area and jacked the land prices so high that the 100-stamp mill planned at Silver Peak was built 1 ½ miles west of here to become the hub of Blair. The Pittsburg-Silver Peak Gold Mining Company built the 17 ½-mile Silver Peak Railroad running north in 1906 and the big mill (Nevada's largest in its day) in 1907. The remnants of stone buildings and mill foundations are the only remains of a once-thriving, but short-lived, mining town. By 1920, Blair was all but deserted. A great shot showing the inhospitability of Esmeralda County. Here's the interesting part... We remember Blair very well, because it was the place where we found a most curious, and downright awesome discovery. A rare find in the desert -- a fully-intact deer skull complete with antlers and some leftover hide! We presumed it was attacked by coyotes. The skull now sits on our mantle at home, reminding us of the great wonders to be found in the Nevada desert. How's that for lucky finds?!
The lonely drive to #174, Blair.
Full Description: Exact description as reads ... Mining fever in the Tonopah boom reached out in all directions and revived many dormant mining towns. Land speculators at nearby Silver Peak bought up the land in that area and jacked the land prices so high that the 100-stamp mill planned at Silver Peak was built 1 ½ miles west of here to become the hub of Blair. The Pittsburg-Silver Peak Gold Mining Company built the 17 ½-mile Silver Peak Railroad running north in 1906 and the big mill (Nevada's largest in its day) in 1907. The remnants of stone buildings and mill foundations are the only remains of a once-thriving, but short-lived, mining town. By 1920, Blair was all but deserted. A great shot showing the inhospitability of Esmeralda County. Here's the interesting part... We remember Blair very well, because it was the place where we found a most curious, and downright awesome discovery. A rare find in the desert -- a fully-intact deer skull complete with antlers and some leftover hide! We presumed it was attacked by coyotes. The skull now sits on our mantle at home, reminding us of the great wonders to be found in the Nevada desert. How's that for lucky finds?!
Mining fever in the Tonopah boom reached out in all directions and revived many dormant mining towns. Land speculators at nearby Silver Peak bought up the land in that area and jacked the land prices so high that the 100-stamp mill planned at Silver Peak was built 1 ½ miles west of here to become the hub of Blair. The Pittsburg-Silver Peak Gold Mining Company built the 17 ½-mile Silver Peak Railroad running north in 1906 and the big mill (Nevada's largest in its day) in 1907. The remnants of stone buildings and mill foundations are the only remains of a once-thriving, but short-lived, mining town. By 1920, Blair was all but deserted. A great shot showing the inhospitability of Esmeralda County. Here's the interesting part... We remember Blair very well, because it was the place where we found a most curious, and downright awesome discovery. A rare find in the desert -- a fully-intact deer skull complete with antlers and some leftover hide! We presumed it was attacked by coyotes. The skull now sits on our mantle at home, reminding us of the great wonders to be found in the Nevada desert. How's that for lucky finds?!
The Pittsburg-Silver Peak Gold Mining Company built the 17 ½-mile Silver Peak Railroad running north in 1906 and the big mill (Nevada's largest in its day) in 1907. The remnants of stone buildings and mill foundations are the only remains of a once-thriving, but short-lived, mining town. By 1920, Blair was all but deserted. A great shot showing the inhospitability of Esmeralda County. Here's the interesting part... We remember Blair very well, because it was the place where we found a most curious, and downright awesome discovery. A rare find in the desert -- a fully-intact deer skull complete with antlers and some leftover hide! We presumed it was attacked by coyotes. The skull now sits on our mantle at home, reminding us of the great wonders to be found in the Nevada desert. How's that for lucky finds?!
The remnants of stone buildings and mill foundations are the only remains of a once-thriving, but short-lived, mining town. By 1920, Blair was all but deserted. A great shot showing the inhospitability of Esmeralda County. Here's the interesting part... We remember Blair very well, because it was the place where we found a most curious, and downright awesome discovery. A rare find in the desert -- a fully-intact deer skull complete with antlers and some leftover hide! We presumed it was attacked by coyotes. The skull now sits on our mantle at home, reminding us of the great wonders to be found in the Nevada desert. How's that for lucky finds?!
By 1920, Blair was all but deserted. A great shot showing the inhospitability of Esmeralda County. Here's the interesting part... We remember Blair very well, because it was the place where we found a most curious, and downright awesome discovery. A rare find in the desert -- a fully-intact deer skull complete with antlers and some leftover hide! We presumed it was attacked by coyotes. The skull now sits on our mantle at home, reminding us of the great wonders to be found in the Nevada desert. How's that for lucky finds?!
Here's the interesting part... We remember Blair very well, because it was the place where we found a most curious, and downright awesome discovery. A rare find in the desert -- a fully-intact deer skull complete with antlers and some leftover hide! We presumed it was attacked by coyotes. The skull now sits on our mantle at home, reminding us of the great wonders to be found in the Nevada desert. How's that for lucky finds?!
A rare find in the desert -- a fully-intact deer skull complete with antlers and some leftover hide! We presumed it was attacked by coyotes. The skull now sits on our mantle at home, reminding us of the great wonders to be found in the Nevada desert. How's that for lucky finds?!
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