These natural hot springs are notable for their curative qualities. They were nationally acclaimed by President Ulysses S. Grant when he visited them in 1879.
Early emigrants so named them because of their puffing and blowing. Located in 1860 (by Felix Monet), a hospital, with adjacent bathhouses, was subsequently added by a Doctor Ellis (1861- 1862).
The Comstock mining activities and the coming of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad in 1871 caused Steamboat to become a terminal. Here materials for the silver mines were transferred to freight wagons for the steep haul to Virginia City. The completion of the tracks abolished the need for a junction, but its resort popularity was to reach its peak with the Bonanza Days.
To its "fine hotel, commodious dance-hall and elegant bar, came the legendary silver kings, politicos, gamblers and new chroniclers, escorting the lovely ladies of stage and opera house."
With borasca, attendance waned; fires destroyed the luxurious buildings, but the therapeutic waters remained, not only for health seekers, but for conditioning athletes--even producing mineral muds, sought by cosmeticians and race horse owners.
 Not much has changed of the original Steamboat Springs Resort.
During winter, the large flumes of steam are impressive. |
- Conquered, 'Late Removal' -
Date of Disappearance: May 2010
I will admit. This is one of the last markers I would expect to go MIA. Until I received an email in February 2011, I had no idea of #198's disappearance, let alone how it would go missing beside such a busy freeway. The date of disappearance occurred within a two week period when the state of Nevada allowed a meager amount of money to be given to maintaining the markers. Within these two weeks, an estimated thirty three markers suddenly went MIA because NDOT removed the markers to reface them. However, the maintenance was to be done by hired sub-contractors for the state. Here is the email I received dated February 2011 by fellow marker hunter Scott Young. Scott contacted the head of NDOT (Susan) and she replied with this email that she had received from Mara Jones at the SHPO. Susan said it was okay for me to share this information with you in hopes that it may explain what has happened to many of our MIAs ...
"Marker #198 was removed by the marker maintenance contractor for repair, a text review and update. There has been a substantial delay in our regular repair process due the text plate supplier going out of business and forgetting to tell anyone and staff constraints. Subsequently, the contractor has found a new supplier and the process is moving ahead. There is a copy of the almost final draft for the new text plate above. We expect it to be in place again within six weeks and will keep you informed as to our progress. We have been in contact with the Steamboat Springs manager during this process.
The e-mails below support a thought/conclusion that I have come to over the last six months; generally the public doesn't seem to know who takes care of the markers and who specifically to call if they have information about markers. Gaelen and I have talked about affixing a sticker to the back of the makers with contact information. We will revisit this again. If you have any thoughts we would like to hear them.
Likewise it seems that we should also somehow indicate when a marker is gone for repair. The joint NDOT/SHPO marker maintenance database that will be up and running in about a year will be a "real time" resource for both agencies, saving us both time, money and energy.
This email may shed much needed light on the case of many of our MIAs. At the very least, we know what happened to #198 and why a void is felt when we pass the turnout along US 395 on the way to Reno. More information will be updated once I locate the whereabouts of this marker. By the way, the owners of the Steamboat Springs Resort are saddened to see the marker gone. The marker helped to bring them business and informed many commuters along the busy freeway of the rich history behind Steamboat Springs. They are eager to see it back up as well. Until then, if you happen to find out any information in regards to this case, please
let me know
so I can update this information with full credit given to you!
