62°F
weather icon Clear

BLM to host walking tours in Rhyolite

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Tonopah Field Office, will host a round of public walking tours at Rhyolite on Saturday, officials said.

The walking tours will be split into two sessions, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Two BLM archaeologists will cover the history of the mining ghost town, the buildings and sites left behind and the steps the BLM is taking to actively manage this important cultural resource, officials said in their news release.

The tour will cover even terrain with some moderate inclines. Closed-toed shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and water are recommended.

Those interested in attending 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 is one of the first buildings on the right-hand side of Rhyolite.

For additional information contact BLM archeologist Jonah Blustain at 775-482-7843 or by email at jblustain@blm.gov

Rich history

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, the BLM said in its announcement on the tours.

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, the BLM said.

Experts estimate that at its peak Rhyolite had a population of 5,000-8,000 people. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 hit California’s financial district hard, which reduced funding for Nevada mines and mining, and production in Rhyolite declined.

On March 14, 1911, residents began to leave the townsite 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.

Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Looking for some family fun for Easter? Hop over to Simkins Park

Anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly festivity to enjoy this holiday can hop on over to Simkins Park to join the Mills family as they celebrate Easter Sunday with worship music, free food and an enormous 14,000-egg hunt that is sure to bring a smile to hundreds of faces.

Campground fees to increase at Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors to Death Valley National Park can expect a slight increase in entrance fees for various campgrounds beginning on May 1.

Clerk staffer Cori Freidhof appointed interim leader

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf’s time in office officially comes to a close on March 31 and deputy clerk Cori Freidhof has now been selected to assume that vacated seat. Freidhof will take over the office as of Monday, April 1 and fulfill the unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2027.

Gaming can have impact on us

When does gaming cross the line from recreational relaxation to problematic behavior? How do video games and gambling relate? What resources are available for those who find themselves struggling to control their relationship with video games and gambling?

County eyeing impact fee increases

The cost to develop in Pahrump could go up, with a public hearing on a proposal to raise local impact fees set for next month.

Here’s who filed as political candidates in Nye County

Locals have filed their political candidacy as of March 15 and this year two major offices in Nye County will be up for grabs in the general election. Nye County residents have to first narrow down their preferred party candidate on June 11 in the primary and then vote in November to support their preferred candidates.

Second Source donation for Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Nye County Sleep in Heavenly Peace is now better off thanks to a second donation from The Source dispensary’s Round Up program.

Beatty riled by sheriff’s substation closure

Lone staffer will be relocated to Pahrump to help with workload there; be onsite in Beatty just once a month.

Sales tax question headed to the ballot

Road conditions in the Pahrump Valley are a sore point for many drivers as well as a source of frustration for the crews dedicated to maintaining them but with only so many road dollars to go around, it can be hard to keep pace with the demand.