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Historical Markers of Eureka County (8)
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The reason I've kept the description so short for Eureka County? -- Frankly, Eureka County stands as a quiet child in Nevada. Not a whole lot happers here, and truth be told, Eureka locals like it that way. The county of Eureka was established in 1873, a county founded not only because of its mineral wealth, but also because of its industrial strengths as well. Eureka has always been a place born with promise with future prosperity.
"Eureka! We have found it!"
Compared to other Nevada mining towns, Eureka has stayed relatively quiet throughout history. The town was first settled in 1864 by a group of prospectors from nearby Austin; the men discovered rock containing a silver-lead ore on nearby Prospect Peak, and within a month, population was booming in shallow Eureka Canyon. Nicknamed the "Pittsburg of the West", the town of Eureka began like any other typical chapter in Nevada mining history, quickly becoming the county seat of its own namesake county in 1873, a new county carved out of adjacent Lander, Elko, and White Pine Counties. Mining quickly became the county's economic mainstay; the nearby hillsides of Eureka ranked as Nevada's second-richest mineral producer, particularly for lead, behind the Comstock Lode. The town's booming population, reaching as high as ten thousand people by 1878, shrank considerably with the decrease in mine production in 1881; eventually, changing market conditions statewide led to the closing of Eureka's mines.
Eureka is still a quiet place in the pages of Nevada. Simply put, things just don't seem to change in Eureka County, and as such, its residents do not complain. Like many other old mining towns, today's Eureka is a mere shadow of what it was -- a bustling metropolis among sagebrush, with blackening smoke from the town's mills clouding up the sky for hundreds of miles. Like a town of steady habits, Eureka's mining industry still continues today, most noticeable by carved out hillsides and open pits surrounding the town. Mining plays such an extensive role in the county today that two of Nevada's largest mines are located here within Eureka County's borders. As a result, the town of Eureka has become sort of the envy of rural Nevada; funded entirely by its two mines, Eureka and its county do not face the sad economic loom like its neighbor Lander County; Eureka lacks the bawdyness of Virginia City, the solemn woes of Austin and the modernization of Round Mountain, a town restored, both old and fresh on "America's Loneliest Road." If you could find a town worthy of a Nevada mining town "postcard shot", Eureka would be it.
The Markers
As for Eureka's historic markers, well, let's just say the county was shafted! To put it mildly, Eureka County is a bit of a disappointment, arguably one of the easiest counties to conquer in the state. The old scene of Eureka, along with a few outlying areas in the county, deserves at least half a dozen other historic markers; Eureka's oldest buildings stand proudly restored -- buildings such as the Eureka Opera House, built in 1880 and restored in 1993, still hosts concerts and music lectures, as well as visitors and performers from all over the country. The Owl Club is a pleasant relic of the past, a step back in time with its authentic bar and creaky wood floorboards. Eureka's residents are full of life and proud of their 'city', dubbing it, "the Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road". Nonetheless, the small amount of Eureka's markers give great honor to Eureka County's past, a fine and interesting drive into some of the state's most extensive mining areas; three of the county's eight markers force the visitor off of US 50, requiring a long diversion into lonely country near Palisade, Beowawe and Diamond Valley. Eureka County itself is vast, but not unconquerable in a day and the town of Eureka (pop. 650) is the only town of mentionable size in the entire county! Needless to say, Eureka probably provides the best base for your marker hunting ventures. Although tiny in comparison to most county seats, Eureka still handles all the basic services for the weary traveler, providing a few gas stations, the Raines' local market, the Owl Club Casino, a Chevron garage, and a few 'name brand' motels. Of course, camping is always an option, and the county offers more than its fair share of great places. Instead of a motel, find a nice camp-site under the stars, particularly near Roberts Mountain or the Fish Creek Range. Try the Diamond Mountains for an even more secluded setting! The experiences are memorable, full of everything and nothing at the same time. Sometimes "nothing" is all you need.
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