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

Tonopah

Photographed by Mh, May 5, 2011

1. Tonopah Marker

Inscription. To Jim Butler, District Attorney of Nye County, goes the credit for making the ore discoveries which ended the twenty-year slump in Nevada's economy. Migratory Indian bands originally applied the name Tonopah to a small spring in the nearby San Antonio Mountains, long before Butler camped in this area in May of 1900. Tonopah became the richest silver producer in the nation and replaced Belmont as the county seat in 1905. The mines spawned a railroad, several huge mills and a busting population of approximately 10,000.

The mines faltered in the 'Twenties', but Tonopah has achieved permanent fame because of the prominent financial and political leaders it produced. Many camps and communities followed in the wake of Tonopah's boom. Most of which have become ghost towns.

Erected by Division of Historic Preservation and Archeology. (Marker Number 15.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1900.

Location. 38° 4.02′ N, 117° 13.746′ W. Marker is in Tonopah, Nevada, in Nye County. It is at the intersection of South Erie Main Street (U.S. 95) and Florence Avenue, on the right on South Erie Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 S Erie Main St, Tonopah NV 89049, 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.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: "Big" Bill Murphy (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Belmont Mine Fire Mural (about 500 feet away); Mizpah Hotel (about 700 feet away); Suffrage Leader (about 700 feet away); County Court House (about 700 feet away); Silver Top Mine (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Jackass, the Miner’s Most Important Friend (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Miner's Life (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tonopah.

Also see . . . New Amended Text for Marker. The Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) recently updated the text of the roughly 260 state historical markers in Nevada. The Nevada SHPO placed the amended text of each individual marker on its website and will change the actual markers in the field as funding allows. Minor changes have been made to the marker for grammar and readability. The link will take you to the Nevada SHPO page for the marker with the amended text. (Submitted on November 12, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.)

Photographed by Mh, May 5, 2011

2. Tonopah Marker

U.S. 95 (S Erie Main Street), Central Tonopah image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mh, May 5, 2011

3. U.S. 95 (S Erie Main Street), Central Tonopah

Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2011, by Mh of Las Vegas, Nevada. This page has been viewed 876 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 15, 2011, by Mh of Las Vegas, Nevada. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.