On U.S. 50, 23 miles north of Nevada Route 722, on the right when traveling north.
Replacement Marker
Abundant grass and brush found near springs and intermittent streams in Edwards Creek Valley were important ecological areas for Native Americans. Shoshone Indians wandered seasonally to gather wild seeds and small . . . — — Map (db m67146) HM
Near U.S. 50, 22 miles west of Nevada Route 722, on the right when traveling west.
In 1861, the rocks composing the walls of this stage station and freighter stop were in neat rows and roofed with bundles of willow. It was one part of "Stagecoach King" John Butterfield's Overland Mail & Stage Company Road Systems, which at the . . . — — Map (db m67145) HM
Near U.S. 50 at milepost 30.7, on the left when traveling east.
On the mountain slopes in the distance, you can see a series of horizontal lines or terraces etched into the side of the range. These beach lines are left by waves of ancient Lake Lahontan. Over 12,000 years ago, the lake reached a maximum depth of . . . — — Map (db m165833) HM
On Pioneer Way, 0.5 miles south of U.S. 50, on the right when traveling south.
"We continued on following the river. The main road leaving the river for 12 miles. Over a strip of desert without grass or water the road along the river being a pack route and impracticable for wagons" - Calvin Taylor, Sep 17, 1850 — — Map (db m159073) HM
On Lincoln Highway (U.S. 50) 0.1 miles west of Trento Lane, on the right when traveling east.
"Ragtown...is a collection of tents and canvass shanties, where a tolerable meal can be had at one dollar a head. Whiskey is sold, cards are played, gambling pretty extensively carried on and hay sold" - Henry Sheldon Anable, Sep 1, 1852 — — Map (db m159072) HM
"Passing out of the canyon we went up [Edwards Creek] Valley between two ranges of mountains ... to Cold Springs where we ... prepared for crossing the sixty mile desert by cutting grass and fillings our kegs with water" - Lumin A. Scott, Aug 29, . . . — — Map (db m159358) HM
On West Williams Avenue at Lincoln Highway (U.S. 50), on the right when traveling west on West Williams Avenue.
Churchill County was created by the Territorial Legislature in 1861 but attached to Lyon County for judicial and revenue purposes. Churchill County was organized in 1864 and La Plata served as county seat. In 1868, it was moved to Stillwater, . . . — — Map (db m69686) HM
On West Williams Avenue near Lincoln Highway (U.S. 50).
In 1903, Senator Warren Williams introduced a bill allowing the county seat to be moved from Stillwater to Fallon. The courthouse was constructed at its present location that same year. The wooden-framed structure of Neo-Classical design was . . . — — Map (db m70512) HM
Near U.S. 50 at milepost 30.7, on the left when traveling east.
According to anthropologists, many hunter-gatherer societies, such as those who lived here, had a spiritual leader called a shaman. During the hunt, the shaman was called on to perform rituals to ensure success. One theory is that some of the . . . — — Map (db m165835) HM
On U.S. 50, 5 miles east of Nevada Route 839, on the right when traveling east.
Fairview was part of the renewed interest in mining. Triggered by the strikes in Tonopah and Goldfield. Discoveries in 1905 of a rich silver float led to a boom that lasted through 1906 and 1907. A substantial town that boasted 27 saloons, hotels, . . . — — Map (db m67147) HM
On Earthquake Fault Road, 0.3 miles south of U.S. 50, on the right when traveling south.
When the energy from pressure built up underneath the Earth's thin crust is suddenly released, an earthquake occurs. At first the crust may just bend. But if the stress is great enough, the rocks will break and "snap" to a new position. This usually . . . — — Map (db m62121) HM
On U.S. 50 at milepost 30.7, on the right when traveling west.
Grimes Point, one of the largest and most accessible petroglyph sites in northern Nevada, contains about 150 basalt boulders covered with petroglyphs. Nevada petroglyphs were of magico-religious significance in insuring the success of large game . . . — — Map (db m127115) HM
Near U.S. 50 at milepost 30.7, on the left when traveling east.
[side 1] The Cattail-Eater People (Toidikadi) Stillwater Marsh is located in the basin northwest of Grimes Point. When the first non-native explorers entered the area, it was the home of the Northern Paiute people, known as the . . . — — Map (db m165830) HM
On Old Carson Highway north of Nevada Route 50, on the left when traveling north.
On this site, while participating in a training exercise, five U.S. Navy men from Helantisubron Four N.A.S. North Island, California were killed when their SH-3 Sea King helicopter crashed at 1245 on 22 March 1978
HS-4 Black Knights LT C.O. . . . — — Map (db m192607) HM
Lahontan Dam, completed in 1915, is the key feature of the Newlands Irrigation Project which has turned Lahontan Valley into one of Nevada's most productive farming and ranching areas. With completion of the dam's powerhouse, the electrical energy . . . — — Map (db m89515) HM
Near U.S. 50 at milepost 30.7, on the left when traveling east.
The crater-like depressions and elongated grooves, seen on the boulder before you, possibly date back 7,000 years or more. This "Pit and Groove" petroglyph style is believed to be the oldest at Grimes Point. Depressions were made by striking the . . . — — Map (db m165831) HM
Near Unnamed Road, 0.6 miles west of Earthquake Fault Road.
Scientists measure the force of an earthquake in several ways. The Richter Scale and the Modified Mercalli Scale are the two methods most often used to gauge an earthquake's strength and magnitude.
The Richter Scale provides an . . . — — Map (db m62122) HM
On East Park Street, on the right when traveling north.
The Oats Park School was designed in 1914 by Frederick J. DeLongchamps, Nevada's pre-eminent architect of the period. He was also responsible for the 1921 north and south wing additions. This building is one of his earliest, and perhaps, first, . . . — — Map (db m69683) HM
On North Maine Street (U.S. 95) just south of East A Street, on the right when traveling north.
In 1929, this building was deemed a magnificent improvement to the city. Built to U.S. Postal Service standards, this brick structure features massive single doors on either end of a vestibule that protects the inside from the elements. Carved . . . — — Map (db m142625) HM
One hundred and fifty years ago, the Pony Express was founded by W. H. Russell, Alexander Majors and William B. Waddell, operators of the Overland Stage Line of Leavenworth, Kansas. During a visit to Washington, Mr. Russell was urged by California . . . — — Map (db m69681) HM
On Reno Highway (U.S. 50) near Pioneer Way, on the right when traveling east.
Ragtown was never a town, but the name of a most welcome oasis and hamlet. This mecca on the banks of nearby Carson River received its name from the appearance of pioneer laundry spread on every handy bush around.
The Forty-Mile Desert, . . . — — Map (db m180202) HM
Near U.S. 50 at milepost 30.7, on the left when traveling east.
Rock art in the Great Basin has often been linked to prehistoric game trails. While this seems strange for this barren scene, consider what this area was like thousands of years ago. Grimes Point would have been a peninsula surrounded by water, and . . . — — Map (db m165834) HM
On U.S. 50, 11 miles north of Nevada Route 722, on the left when traveling north.
Replacement Marker
Rock Creek was an important stagecoach stop on the Overland Mail Stage Company's historic line along the Simpson route between Salt Lake City and Genoa, Nevada, which was operated by John Butterfield (1861-1866) and . . . — — Map (db m67144) HM
On U.S. 50 at milepost 46.5, on the right when traveling west.
Sand Mountain, dominating the Salt Wells Basin, is a prominent landmark in Nevada's early history. The Northern Piute know it as Kwazi, the name of the snake that inhabits the dune, its backbone forming the crest of the mountain. Captain James . . . — — Map (db m69653) HM
Two small rooms at the southwest end of the station were originally one large room and shared a common wood floor. The wall which now separates the two rooms was built on top of the floor some time later. The center room was probably used for . . . — — Map (db m127117) HM
Near U.S. 50 at milepost 30.7, on the left when traveling east.
While petroglyphs were etched or scratched into the rock surface, pictographs were painted, using natural materials as pigments. One of the oldest petroglyph styles can be seen as circular and wavy lines and may be almost 3000 years old. The . . . — — Map (db m165832) HM
Near Lincoln Avenue (U.S. 50) 25 miles east of Maine Street (U.S. 95), on the left when traveling east.
"The Mail Must Go Through"
From April 3, 1860 to November 21, 1861, mail was delivered by the Pony Express between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California. It was a relay system between 190 stations along the route. A fresh horse was . . . — — Map (db m142572) HM
On Lincoln Highway (U.S. 50) near Wildes Road (County Route 118), on the left when traveling east.
Want it known that in the State of Nevada....
This site is dedicated not for it’s historical significance, but for the significance of the genuine gold diggers of Western history... the working girls who made a man forget the back breaking work . . . — — Map (db m90814) HM
Near U.S. 50, 11 miles north of Nevada Route 722, on the right when traveling north.
Competing with time, distance, harsh climate, and hostile Indians, the Pony Express carried important communications from the East and the West across 2,000 miles in only 10 days.
The "Pony," as it was called, is an outstanding . . . — — Map (db m67142) HM
On U.S. 95, 0.9 miles south of Interstate 80, on the left when traveling south.
"Long before sunrise our teams were on the trail marching forward on the desert. Very little to note save the dust & brightness of the glittering sand. Now & then a grave, little donage & dead stock." - John Clark of Virginia, Aug 21, 1852 — — Map (db m149414) HM
On Nevada Route 722 at milepost 4.7, on the right when traveling north.
The ten foot wide flat at the base of the cliff is the site of Wagon Jack Shelter. The name comes from the Shoshone Indian, Wagon Jack, who camped here about 1900, while working on an Eastgate Ranch. He was a leader of Indian rabbit drives in Smith . . . — — Map (db m69650) HM
Near Lincoln Avenue (U.S. 50) 25 miles east of Maine Street (U.S. 95), on the left when traveling east.
Sand Springs Deserved its Name The rocks you see in front of you were once Sand Springs Pony Express Station. The Pony Express ended in November 1861, but this Station was used as a stopover for freight wagons until the late 1800s. It laid . . . — — Map (db m142573) HM
Little known at the time, except as a stage stop, Williams Station was destined to be remembered in Nevada history as the incident that ignited the Pyramid Lake War of 1860.
Williams Station was named for three brothers, James O., Oscar, and . . . — — Map (db m168508) HM
On U.S. 50 at milepost 61.5, on the right when traveling west. Reported missing.
text from: Nevada State Historic Preservation Office
Located 13 miles to the north is the camp of Wonder, a major mining center in the early years of the twentieth century. Thomas J. Stroud and several others made the first locations in . . . — — Map (db m69651) HM
On U.S. 50 at California Road, on the right when traveling west on U.S. 50.
Hazen was named for William Babcock Hazen, who served under General Sherman in his "March to the Sea." The town, established in 1903 to house laborers working on the Newlands Irrigation Project south of here, included hotels, saloons, brothels, . . . — — Map (db m42328) HM
Near U.S. 95 at Interstate 80, on the right when traveling south.
Stretching before you are two vast sinks, terminal areas of the Humboldt and Carson River drainage systems. The marshey remnant of Lake Lahontan, between you and the distant Humboldt Range, served as a life sustaining resource of wildlife for . . . — — Map (db m67352) HM
Near U.S. 95 at Interstate 80, on the right when traveling south.
Whichever direction your travels take you, you're going to have a similar experience to what the California-bound emigrants had. You're going to see the same country, except for the towns and the ranch meadows. The big difference, though, is that . . . — — Map (db m67359) HM
Near U.S. 95 at Interstate 80, on the right when traveling south.
The 40 Mile Desert, beginning here, is a barren stretch of waterless alkali wasteland. It was the most dreaded section of the California Emigrant Trail. If possible, it was traveled by night because of the great heat.
The route was first . . . — — Map (db m67348) HM
Near U.S. 95 at Interstate 80, on the right when traveling south.
Look at the barren country south of here just beyond this Rest Stop. This is the Forty-Mile Desert--a barren stretch of waterless alkali wasteland. It was the single-most dreaded section of the entire California Trail from the banks of the Missouri . . . — — Map (db m67357) HM
On Nevada Route 50 west of Route 361, on the right when traveling west.
"We left camp at 6 this morning passed through Middle and West Gate This kanyon that these passes or gates are in is the most beautiful one we passed through yet we have not traveled only 15 miles to day." - Elizabeth Duncan Oct 4, 1867 . . . — — Map (db m155193) HM
Near Nevada Route 361 south of Lincoln Highway (U.S. 50), on the right when traveling south.
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 . . . — — Map (db m89452) HM