Middlegate in Churchill County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Middlegate Station
Photographed By Trev Meed, April 3, 2013
1. Middlegate Station Marker
Inscription.
Middlegate Station. . Middlegate was named in 1850 by James Simson as he mapped the route for the Overland Stage Company. In his journal he writes that he thought the cuts in the mountains looked like 'gates' so he named each cut Westgate, Middlegate, and Eastgate to identify the route he took across the desert. It was at this spot at Middlegate that in 1859 the Overland Stage and Freight Company built a station to serve the gold and silver mines near Tonopah and east to Ely. When the Pony Express began service on April 3, 1860 Middlegate station served as a changing station on the route for 18 months until October 24, 1861 when the completion of the Pacific Telegraph line ended the need for its existence. Middlegate continued to serve as a stage and freight station until the early 1900's to deliver personnel and much needed supplies to the gold and silver mines in eastern Nevada until the mines closed. Automobiles soon came into service and the Lincoln Highway replaced the long and uncomfortable stage routes. The romantic drama surrounding the Pony Express and early history of the area has made Middlegate Station part of the legend of the American West.
Middlegate was named in 1850 by James Simson as he mapped the route for the Overland Stage Company. In his journal he writes that he thought the cuts in the mountains looked like 'gates' so he named each cut Westgate, Middlegate, and Eastgate to identify the route he took across the desert. It was at this spot at Middlegate that in 1859 the Overland Stage & Freight Company built a station to serve the gold and silver mines near Tonopah and east to Ely. When the Pony Express began service on April 3, 1860 Middlegate station served as a changing station on the route for 18 months until October 24, 1861 when the completion of the Pacific Telegraph line ended the need for its existence. Middlegate continued to serve as a stage and freight station until the early 1900's to deliver personnel and much needed supplies to the gold and silver mines in eastern Nevada until the mines closed. Automobiles soon came into service and the Lincoln Highway replaced the long and uncomfortable stage routes. The romantic drama surrounding the Pony Express and early history of the area has made Middlegate Station part of the legend of the American West.
Erected 2011 by E Clampus Vitus - Snowshoe Thompson Chapter 1827.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications
Location. 39° 17.231′ N, 118° 1.608′ W. Marker is in Middlegate, Nevada, in Churchill County. Marker can be reached from Nevada Route 361 south of Lincoln Highway (U.S. 50), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fallon NV 89406, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2015, by Trev Meed of Round Mountain, Nevada. This page has been viewed 982 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on October 8, 2015, by Trev Meed of Round Mountain, Nevada. 2, 3. submitted on October 9, 2015, by Trev Meed of Round Mountain, Nevada. 4. submitted on March 4, 2020, by Michael Fuess of Reno, Nevada. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
