Historical Markers of Storey County
 

  • HM 13 - The Comstock Lode
  • HM 28 - Mark Twain
  • HM 87 - Savage Mansion (c.1863)
  • HM 132 - Mackay Mansion
  • HM 209 - Chollar Mine
  • HM 228 - The Great Fire of 1875
  • HM 236 - Piper's Opera House
  • HM 266 - African Americans and the Boston Saloon
    • Mark Twain

    Location: Virginia City
    Directions: Along C Street at the front door to the Terretorial Enterprise

    N39° 18' 36.3"   W119° 38' 58.9"

    Location: 1
    Visibility: 3
    Accessibility: 2
    Marker type: Classic
    		   

    Date Conquered: 11/21/07
    Nearest intersection: Between Union St and Taylor St.
    Quick Description: A fine marker commemorating Mark Twain and his profound influence in Nevada
    Signed: No -- Historically, this marker was never signed

    NOTES: The most noticeable oddity on this plaque is that it reads "Historical Marker No. 27." No, this page isn't an error on my accord. When the SHPO relinquished most of these old Classic-style markers in the 80's, the Office failed to update them. Mark Twain happened to be one of the only classics to stay -- and with it, a courteous confusion! HM 27 is actually Grimes Point east of Fallon.

    Full Description:
    Exact description as reads ...

    This plaque received a much-needed face lift in 2011.

    100 years ago, in 1864, Samuel Clemens left the Terretorial Enterprise, moving on to California and worldwide fame. He was a reporter here in 1863 when he first used the name, Mark Twain. He later described his colorful adventures in Nevada in "Roughing It."

    The original Terretorial Enterprise building.
    This plaque is also found on the post of the Terretorial Enterprise. #28 is located to the left of this old beauty.

    DID YOU KNOW?...
    ...Contrary to popular belief, the Territorial Enterprise was NOT Nevada's first newspaper?     That title actually belongs to the "Gold Canyon Switch" in 1849, a written one page handout in the camp of Johntown near present-day Silver City. The Territorial Enterprise wins the prize as the first CIRCULATED newspaper in Nevada.

    >> HM 29 >> Site Homepage Contact

    Partnered with

    Great Basin Wilds Photography
    Copyright © Paul Sebesta

    Fact #28: In 1909, Mark Twain predicted his own death. His prediction was accurate – Twain died of a heart attack on April 21, 1910, in Redding, Connecticut, one day after Halley's Comet closest approach to Earth.
    He is quoted as saying:
    "I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don't go out with Halley's Comet. The Almighty has said, no doubt: 'Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together."