Near Keeler in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Owens Lake Silver-Lead Furnace

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 1, 2023

1. Owens Lake Silver-Lead Furnace Marker

Inscription.
The Owens Lake Silver-Lead Furnace and Mill was built here by Col. Sherman Stevens in 1869 and used until March 1874. James Brady assumed its operation in 1870 for the Silver-Lead Company and built the town of Swansea. During the next few years the output of this furnace and another at Cerro Gordo was around 150 bars of silver ever 24 hours, each weighing 83 pounds.

Erected 1961 by California State Park Commission in cooperaiton with the Eastern California Museam Association. (Marker Number 752.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 36° 31.446′ N, 117° 54.335′ W. Marker is near Keeler, California, in Inyo County. It can be reached from California Route 136 9.6 miles east of U.S. 395, on the right when traveling east. Located 200 feet west of the highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Keeler CA 93530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Sierra Nevada.

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It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: New Water, New Life (approx. 0.9 miles away); Gifts of Rock and Water (approx. 1.3 miles away); Traces of the Past (approx. 1.6 miles away); Owens Lake Dust Mitigation Program (approx. 1.6 miles away); Dolomite Mine (approx. 1.8 miles away); Keeler Then to Now (approx. 3 miles away); Keeler (approx. 3 miles away); Cerro Gordo (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Keeler.

Also see . . . Ghost Town Trail. A YouTube driving tour complete with photos. (Submitted on July 20, 2018.)

Additional keywords. Eastern Sierra History Conference, Sierra Forever

Photographed by Michael Kindig, November 10, 2013

2. Owens Lake Silver-Lead Furnace Marker

Photographed by Michael Kindig, November 10, 2013

3. Owens Lake Silver-Lead Furnace Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 1, 2023

4. Owens Lake Silver-Lead Furnace Marker

Furnace Ruins - behind the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 30, 2023

5. Furnace Ruins - behind the marker

Ruins - near the highway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 30, 2023

6. Ruins - near the highway

Sign at Highway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 1, 2023

7. Sign at Highway

2026

8. Sign at Highway

It’s amazing where my photos turn up! -CB

Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,234 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 6, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3. submitted on March 25, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 4. submitted on May 1, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5, 6. submitted on April 30, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 7. submitted on May 1, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 8. submitted on October 17, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.