Near Rhyolite in Nye County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Rhyolite

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 27, 2020

1. Rhyolite Marker

Inscription. In 1904 Frank “Shorty” Harris and Ed Cross found green-colored, high grade gold ore. The resulting gold rush created the Bullfrog District. Its premier community was Rhyolite. Platted in 1905, it quickly grew into the largest city in southern Nevada. Eventually served by three water systems and three railroads, the Tonopah and Tidewater, the Bullfrog Goldfield, and the Las Vegas & Tonopah - whose 1908 depot still stands - Rhyolite boomed. By 1907 it claimed a population of 6,000. With the economic collapse of 1907, and the closure of Charles Schwab's Montgomery Shoshone Mine in 1910, the town died. By 1920 only 14 residents remained. During its heyday, the lack of local timber supplies led to concrete and adobe being used for most buildings, though three buildings were built from empty bottles with one still standing today. The town's growth was fast, and its demise nearly as fast. Today, Rhyolite stands as a testament to the mining heritage of southern Nevada.

Erected 2017 by E Clampus Vitus, and Bureau of Land Management.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers.

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In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 2017.

Location. 36° 53.391′ N, 116° 49.627′ W. Marker is near Rhyolite, Nevada, in Nye County. It is on Rhyolite Road 0.8 miles north of Nevada Route 374, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Beatty NV 89003, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Mojave Desert

and in Central Nevada. It is also in the American Southwest

and in the 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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rhyolite's District of Shadows (approx. 0.4 miles away); Tom Kelly Bottle House (approx. half a mile away); Welcome to Rhyolite (approx. 0.6 miles away); Miners Union Hall (approx. 0.7 miles away); Mona Bell's Grave (approx. 0.7 miles away); Rhyolite Schoolhouse (approx. 0.7 miles away); Rhyolite Jail (approx. 0.7

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 27, 2020

2. Rhyolite Marker

The ghost town can be seen in the distance, at right.

miles away); Adobe Dance Hall (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rhyolite.

Railroad Depot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 27, 2020

3. Railroad Depot

Cook Bank Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 27, 2020

4. Cook Bank Building

Bottle House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 27, 2020

5. Bottle House

Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 10, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 502 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 10, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.