Near Rhyolite in Nye County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Rhyolite
Photographed By Craig Baker, October 27, 2020
1. Rhyolite Marker
Inscription.
Rhyolite. . 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 and 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.
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. 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,
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116° 49.627′ W. Marker is near Rhyolite, Nevada, in Nye County. Marker 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.
The ghost town can be seen in the distance, at right.
Photographed By Craig Baker, October 27, 2020
3. Railroad Depot
Photographed By Craig Baker, October 27, 2020
4. Cook Bank Building
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 223 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.
