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

Stopes

Photographed by Trev Meed, 2014

1. Stopes Marker

Inscription.
The stopes are where the ore bodies were mined out. These show where the veins actually came to the surface. Jim Butler's original discovery was on these veins near the back of the old fire house. The ore bodies averaged about 500' in depth and most of the stopes are that deep. The first 100' or so were mined from the surface down on leases led by Jim Butler between 1900 and 1901. The miners used windlass' and whims (horse drawn hoists) to get the ore to the surface. All drilling for blasting was done by hand using the "single jack" (one man) or "double jack" (two men) method. Light was furnished by candles. Timbers were put in by these early leasers to keep the walls from collapsing.

Erected by Tonopah Historic Mining Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 38° 4.217′ N, 117° 13.776′ W. Marker is in Tonopah, Nevada, in Nye County. It can be reached from Burro Avenue. The location shown is not correct. Please help by correcting this marker location. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 Burro Avenue, 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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Leasers (here, next to this marker); Teamsters

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(here, next to this marker); Framing Building (a few steps from this marker); Mizpah Mine Powder Magazine (a few steps from this marker); Undiscovered Silver Vein (a few steps from this marker); Verdi Lumber Company Coal Bin (a few steps from this marker); Into the Depths (within shouting distance of this marker); The Hoistmen (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tonopah.

More about this marker. The location shown is not correct. Please help by correcting the location of this marker and the others nearby.

Also see . . . Tonopah Mining Park Brochure & Map. (Submitted on May 8, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.)

<center>Stope</center> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Trev Meed, 2014

2. Stope

Photographed by Trev Meed, 2014

3. Stope

Photographed by Trev Meed, 2014

4. Stope

Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2015, by Trev Meed of Round Mountain, Nevada. This page has been viewed 481 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 14, 2015, by Trev Meed of Round Mountain, Nevada. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. • • Please provide a wide view photo of the marker and its surroundings showing its location. • Please correct the coordinates/location of this marker. • • • Can you help?