George Frederick Colton can be considered to be the father of Searchlight. The Searchlight claim made on May 6, 1897 was the earliest claim of importance in what became the Searchlight Mining District. He is also credited with providing the name of . . . — — Map (db m29333) HM
Initial discoveries of predominately gold ore were first made at this location on May 6, 1897. G. F. Colton filed the first claim, later to become the Duplex Mine. The Quartette Mining Company, formed in 1900, became the mainstay of the . . . — — Map (db m29369) HM
Gold was discovered near here in 1897. In July 1898, the Searchlight Mining District was organized and in October the post office opened. The boom peaked in 1907 and quickly faded along with the town. But the town never died, instead becoming the . . . — — Map (db m46736) HM
In 1946, Willie Martello came to Searchlight. He purchased the Wheatley Hotel, and remodeled it into a casino/restaurant. Renaming it the El Rey Club after a favored beer, Martello proceeded to change Searchlight history.
Martello's new club . . . — — Map (db m69446) HM
On 3 Aug 1970 a Navy P-3A
Orion crashed near here
with the loss of all
ten crewmen.
In Memory of
LT Timothy D. Bailing PPC •
LT Norman L. Johnson TACCO •
LTJG Henry J McGreevey CP •
ADJ1 Ambrose Ordonia FE •
ADJ! Johnny D Shelton FE . . . — — Map (db m46735) HM
