Historical Markers of
Washoe County & Reno

 

  • HM 4 - Junction House
  • HM 18 - Pyramid Lake
  • HM 24 - Olinghouse
  • HM 29 - Chinese in Nevada
  • HM 30 - Reno
  • HM 43 - Derby Diversion Dam
  • HM 62 - Truckee River -- West
  • HM 63 - Truckee River -- East
  • HM 68 - Wadsworth
  • HM 79 - Civil War Plot
  • HM 81 - Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Tree
  • HM 88 - Sparks
  • HM 94 - The Winters Ranch
    (Rancho Del Sierra)
  • HM 114 - Franktown
  • HM 128 - The Great Train Robbery
  • HM 148 - The Two Battles of Pyramid Lake
  • HM 149 - High Rock Canyon
  • HM 152 - Gerlach
  • HM 166 - Bowers Mansion
  • HM 169 - Glendale School
  • HM 189 - Southern Pacific Railroad Yards
  • HM 191 - Verdi
  • HM 198 - Steamboat Springs
  • HM 210 - Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad Depot
  • HM 211 - Old Geiger Grade (In Canyon Below)
  • HM 212 - Galena
  • HM 218 - Geiger Station (Magnolia House)
  • HM 220 - The Fight of the Century
  • HM 221 - Sand Harbor
  • HM 227 - Lake Mansion
  • HM 230 - Mount Rose Weather Observatory
  • HM 234 - Moana Springs
  • HM 238 - Huffaker's
  • HM 240 - Coney Island
  • HM 245 - Frederick Joseph DeLongchamps (June 2, 1882 - February 11, 1969)
  • HM 246 - The Great Incline of the Sierra Nevada
  • HM 247 - Site of Nevada's First Public Library
  • HM 248 - Virginia & Truckee Railroad
    Right of Way
  • HM 253 - Emigrant-Donner Camp
  • HM 256 - Historic Transportation...
  • HM 265 - Governor Emmet Derby Boyle
  • HM 267 - Galena Creek Fish Hatchery
  • Gerlach

    NOTES: Be prepared for a long way off the beaten path. [152] Gerlach is arguably one of the most remote markers in the system - necessitating 155 miles round-trip to conquer a single historic marker. This equates to approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes one way. Prepare yourself for this one.

    The long, lonely drive to [152] Gerlach

    Like most roads in Nevada, one man's treasure can be another man's monotony. SR 447 lives up to that name. If you can't stand desert driving then SR 447 may be the longest you'll ever drive. There are a still only a few reasons why a person drives SR 447. If you don't know the reasons, maybe you needn't conquer this marker.

    Just outside of Wadsworth, Mile 6 is a nice introduction to our 77 mile journey to #152.

    After leaving the security of Nixon and Pyramid Lake, hunter can consider themselves on their own for the next 61 miles.

    Just past Nixon and Pyramid Lake. Only 61 more miles to go!

    (Photo below)
    - At Mile 23, just past the hill from Pyramid Lake, SR 447 makes a nice coast down into Winnemucca Valley. The white playa of Winnemucca Lake (right center) gives a nice reminder of days gone past. Thanks to the Newlands Irrigation Project and a re-routing of the Truckee River's plumbing, Winnemucca Lake finally dried up in 1939.

    At Mile 30, the scenery doesn't disappointment. The drive to Gerlach is an impressive step into some very primal landscape. For close to 20 miles, SR 447 parallels the massive playa of Winnemucca Lake. When we went in early February, the temperature was fantastic at only 43 degrees and the lake shimmered with a thin blanket of water courtesy of melting snows.

    (Photo below)
    At Mile 42: a little over halfway there! Notice that the only control destination is "Gerlach." I guess NDOT doesn't want people to know that they can take this road past Gerlach to many points northward!

    (Photo below)
    At Mile 52, and having past the north shore of Winnemucca Lake. The scenery has only just begun!

    [152] Continued Site Homepage

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    Great Basin Wilds Photography
    Copyright © Paul Sebesta

    Fact #152: In 2011, 53,963 people attended the annual Burning Man Festival ...