Gerlach in Washoe County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Gerlach

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 19, 2016

1. Gerlach Marker

Inscription. Situated between Black Rock Desert on the east and Smoke Creek Desert on the west, the townsite of Gerlach lies in country occupied for thousands of years.

John C. Frémont traveled through these Northern Paiute Indian lands when he camped here in 1843 and named "Boiling Springs" ¼ mile north of town.

This was also emigrant country; the Noble Road left the Applegate-Lassen Tail [sic] at Black Springs, went past this site, and proceeded southwest through Smoke Creek Desert toward Susanville.

The town was established after the construction of the Western Pacific Railroad 1905-1909.

Erected by Nevada Historic Preservation Office. (Marker Number 152.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Nobles Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1843.

Location. 40° 39.101′ N, 119° 21.264′ W. Marker is in Gerlach, Nevada, in Washoe County. It is on Main Street (Nevada Route 447) 0 miles north of Beechnut Court, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker

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is in this post office area: Gerlach NV 89412, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Sierra Nevada,

in the Lake Tahoe Basin,

and in Greater Reno Area.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Empire (approx. 5½ miles away); Burning Man Timeline (approx. 11.4 miles away).

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 19, 2016

2. Gerlach Marker

The Black Rock Desert is in the background.

Township of Gerlach image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 19, 2016

3. Township of Gerlach

Gerlach Water Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 19, 2016

4. Gerlach Water Tower

The water tower was built in 1909 to serve both the Western Pacific Railroad and the township of Gerlach. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Black Rock Desert image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 19, 2016

5. Black Rock Desert

Union Pacific Crew Shuttle Car image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 19, 2016

6. Union Pacific Crew Shuttle Car

Gerlach was founded as a company town for the Western Pacific Railroad, the last of the transcontinental railroads. Many years ago, the California Zephyr stopped here between Portola, California, and Winnemucca, Nevada. Although no passenger trains now pass through Gerlach, Union Pacific freight trains are still active.

The photograph shows a lightweight Pullman-Standard bi-level commute car built in 1968 for Chicago & North Western Railway. UPRR purchased six of these cars from C&NW in 2004 and converted them to Crew Shuttle Cars for movement of track maintenance crews when highway transportation is either unavailable or difficult due to weather conditions.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 19, 2016

7. Black Rock Desert

Each year for seven days ending on Labor Day, Burning Man builds a radically inclusive and radically self-reliant city on the playa east of Gerlach in the Black Rock Desert.

How to Find the Gerlach Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 19, 2016

8. How to Find the Gerlach Marker

The marker is located directly across Main Street from a saloon named Miners Club.

State Route 447 Near Gerlach image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 19, 2016

9. State Route 447 Near Gerlach

Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2020, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 639 times since then and 48 times this year. Last updated on May 20, 2020, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 15, 2020, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. 7, 8, 9. submitted on May 18, 2020, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.