Public Tours of Historic Rhyolite back by Popular Demand
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BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. – On Saturday October 28th, the Bureau of Land Management, Tonopah Field Office, will be hosting another round of public walking tours at Rhyolite, Nevada. The tours will be split into two sessions held at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
The walking tours will be hosted by two BLM Archaeologist who will cover the history of this mining ghost town, the buildings and sites left behind and the steps the BLM is taking to actively manage this important cultural resource.
Rhyolite was once a booming gold rush town in Southern Nevada that drew thousands of people to the area after Frank “Shorty” Harris and Ernest “Ed” Cross discovered quartz in the surrounding county in 1904.By 1905 the town had running water and by 1907 Rhyolite was in full swing with electricity, telephone lines, a bank, and at one point, 50 saloons! Experts estimate that at its peak Rhyolite had a population of 5,000-8,000 people. As we all know, what goes up must come down; Rhyolite’s quick influx of businesses, residents, and financial success was short lived. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 hit California’s financial district hard which reduced funding for Nevada mines and mining production declined. On March 14, 1911 residents began to leave the town site in large numbers, many of them heading back to California, and in 1916 the power was turned off and the lights went out in Rhyolite.
Tours will be held at 10:00 a.m and 1:00 p.m. on October 28th. The tour will cover even terrain with some moderate inclines. Closed-toed shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and water are recommended. Those interested in attending one of the two tours should meet at the Tom Kelly Bottle House at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time for the tour. The Tom Kelly Bottle House will be one of the first buildings you see on the right hand side as you pull up to historic Rhyolite. Parking is readily available. For additional information on this event please contact BLM Archeologist Jonah Blustain at 775-482-7843 or by email at jblustain@blm.gov.
The town of Beatty, Nevada, will also be kicking off their second day of Beatty Days, an annual town celebration that runs from Oct 27-29. Beatty is just a short drive from Rhyolite so there will be a ton of things to do in the area after the public walking tours!
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.