Lida near Goldfield in Esmeralda County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Lida

Photographed by Lester J Letson, July 18, 2009

1. Lida Marker

Inscription. Known as a contact point for Shoshones and Northern Paiute Indians, Lida Valley was the site of early prospecting in the 1860's.

Later prospectors organized a mining district in 1867 and laid out the town in 1872. Soon stores, shops, stables and a Post Office were established. Some ore was milled locally. Yet high grade ore (500 dollars - 1,000 dollars per ton) was treated at Austin or Belmont. After 1880 mining declined.

Lida revived and thrived for three years during the Goldfield boom, but declined again in 1907. Mining efforts resumed a few years later and a small community existed here until World War I.

Erected by Nevada State Park System, E. F. Denton. (Marker Number 157.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.

Location. 37° 27.317′ N, 117° 29.967′ W. Marker is near Goldfield, Nevada, in Esmeralda County. It is in Lida. It is on Nevada Route 266, 19 miles west of Highway 95, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Goldfield NV 89013,

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United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Sierra Nevada

and specifically 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 3 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pigeon Spring (approx. 9½ miles away); Gold Point (approx. 10.2 miles away); Palmetto (approx. 10.7 miles away).

Regarding Lida. The Lida Post Office was originally designated as Inyo County, California as no one was really sure where the state boundary was at that time. The town "magically moved" to Nevada after the borders were verified in 1873.

Also see . . .
1. Lida Ghost Town. (Submitted on February 25, 2012, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California.)
2. New Amended Text for Marker. The Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) recently updated the text of the roughly 260 state historical markers in

Photographed by Lester J Letson, July 18, 2009

2. Lida Marker

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.)

Lida Ghost Town image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lester J Letson, July 18, 2009

3. Lida Ghost Town

Some buildings still remain. The area is private property.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2012, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. This page has been viewed 1,176 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 25, 2012, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.