The monument protects nearly 300,000 acres of desert landscapes featuring a wide array of natural and cultural resources, including rock art, sandstone towers, and important wildlife habitat for species including the mojave desert. Brian james leech provides a social and environmental history of butte, montanas berkeley pit, an openpit mine which operated from 1955 to 1982. A wide array of people throughout time have made their mark upon the rugged landscape as they traversed across the natural crossroads in the desert known as gold butte. Gold butte, nevada is part of the gold butte mining district, which includes the territory south of gold butte lying between the nevadaarizona state line to the east and the virgin river now lake mead to the west. The county was named in honor of edward farris storey 18291860, a captain killed at pyramid lake in the 1860 paiute war. The helpful librarian guided me to a shelf of books on nevada history, but none of them mentioned gold. In nevada, tribes push to protect land at the heart. Black butte extension mining company signed by george. Very interesting and scenic trip to a loop off road trails just south of gold butte nevada to find the radio crystal mine and other mines of interest in this area.
Green, a leading nevada historian, provides a detailed survey of the silver states past, from the arrival of the early european explorers, to the predominance of mining in the 1800s, to the rise of worldclass tourism in the twentieth century, and to more recent attempts to diversify the economy. Locals reportedly called them the odd pair and the long and the short of it, partly because garrett, a rancher from texas, stood about six feet tall while coleman was just 5foot1. Gold butte many atv specific trails on the gold butte near bunkerville nevada. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips. Orville and his stories are cited in many different histories of clark county. Whitney pockets, also known as whitney pocket, is the primary campground and staging area within the gold butte national monument. Exploring nevada history history libguides at university. From town, drive out to gold butte national monument. The falling man rock art site is located out in gold butte national monument at the northeast end of lake mead, about 2 hours northeast of las vegas in a wild and remote, but scenic area. Many atv specific trails around the mesquite and bunkerville nevada. Nevada gold rush history and mining locations gold maps online. Also, full statistics of mining and all other industrial resources. The greatest modern day gold mining in the united states nowadays occurs in nevada.
Research is published quarterly and we hope you will enjoy learning about the native tribes and pioneering families that are featured. Gold butte nevada has a new national monument after a 15. In gold butte in nevada, ancient rock art and rugged beauty. Produced by fred kier 990 productions and the nevada wilderness project. Dec 22, 2015 these 10 rare photos of nevada mines from the past are eye opening. View from kirks grotto traihead, gold butte national monument march 2019 photo by tom garrison my wife deb and i love out in the middle of nowhere hikes. New book explores nevadas unique history nevada public radio. The art or practice of taking and processing photographs.
However, from behind the desk she did find a book from a local author. Bud published this pdf file of their trip, and as is customary, bud enhanced a lot of the details and history behind the different areas involved, plus added more photos and. Large scale gold mining started with the california gold rush in 1848 but it only lasted for only about 7 years. The designation of many national monuments hang in limbo as the u. Map of gold butte national monument nevada gold butte national monument map the one main approach route into gold butte national monument is the paved gold butte road, a backcountry byway, which starts from riverside along hwy 170, 3 miles from exit 112 of interstate 15. Clark countys claim in nevada s mining history mining is a large piece of nevada s history. Mica was first discovered here in 1873, and then gold in 1905. Goldfield historical society goldfield nevada the history. As nevada state road 341 winds its way northward to the queen of the comstock lode virginia city, it passes through two more mining camps. Hiking around las vegas, gold butte national monument. Gold butte national monument bureau of land management. We recognize their labors and celebrate their literary heritage. When exploring gold butte you can have your cake and eat it too with a visit to the historic gold butte townsite.
The designation of nevada s piece of the grand canyon as a national monument is being both celebrated and criticized in the silver state. The best way to waste your time looking for any mineral is to not know what you are doing or be looking in the wrong places. I asked ron both for recommendations of books by others and, separately, books that he has written or edited. Trip log data from mesquite down to gold butte and around the southern loop and back to gold butte, 68. Gold butte vermiculite deposits, clark county, nevada. Gold butte national monument similar to a national park, was established in 2016 to create a 300,000 acre preserve that protects the landscape from development while also protecting native american, ranching, and pioneer history while providing for recreational access. In his book hookey beans and willows he writes of the grand old men of gold butte capturing a timeless snapshot of the good ol days at gold butte. Nevada history books recommended by nevada state historic. This page contains all mineral locality references listed on.
Code switch national monument designations that bypass congress are hugely controversial. A gold rush in 1908 brought in more people, and the townsite now had a hotel, livery stable, post office, mercantile, and several residences. These maps and books will show you where to go and what to do when you get there. Aug 18, 2016 in nevada, tribes push to protect land at the heart of bundy ranch standoff. Jan 15, 2017 feature gold butte is 300,000 acres of rugged wilderness in southern nevada with a history as rich and colorful as its sandstone mountains. Maybe thats why american indian sites like these pack. Little finland is accessible via the blm gold butte backcountry byway, which also goes through the historic mining town of gold butte, nevada, established in 1908. A history of the silver state shepperson series in nevada. The goldfield historical society is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the history and heritage of goldfield, nevada for present and future generations. Gold butte national monument mesquite 2020 all you.
A trip to the gold butte area and mines nearby in the desert. Gold butte national monument protects a landscape of intricate geology and history, where nature and humans have created true works of art. Leaving the i15 from exit 112, the gold butte townsite is located at the end of gold butte road, about 50 miles south of the highway. Page 619 said board shall choose one of its members president and one thereof secretary, who shall. The first members appointed on said board shall meet and organize at the state capitol in carson city, nevada, on the first day of may, 1899, and thereafter they shall meet twice in each year, on the first monday of may and. Daniel bonelli discovered mica in this area in 1873.
Programs are produced by nevada humanities, and are made possible with support from the nevada state libraries, archives, and public records, the institute of. The 1860 census data consists of the part of the utah territory that would eventually become nevada. In 1921, a warehouse fire destroyed the 1890 census, so it is unavailable. By designating gold butte as a monument it is intentionally prioritizing cultures and history by what todays values dictate while minimizing others. I visited several sites in nevada this weekend, including gold butte, valley of fire, nelsons landing, and christmas tree pass. Elliott is the author of nevada s twentiethcentury mining boom, and william d. This doesnt include the mileage or time back to mesquite from gold butte. From the gold butte backcountry byway turn south onto devils cove rd. The brightly hued sandstone provides a stunning canvas for the areas famously beautiful. The town was originally known for the mining of mica and was typical in that it resembled the layout of most other mining boom towns of the era. Nevada history books recommended by nevada state historic preservation officer ron james.
Elliott is a professor emeritus of history and rowley a professor of history at the university of nevada reno. Throughout the course of nevadan history there have been many notable books, poems, and other literary works written and composed by nevadan authors. Discover gold butte national monument of nevada travel. The nuwuvi left hints of their lives here as they learned to coexist with the land in the moapa valley. These are true adventures, where, if something goes wrong, you must rely on your preparedness and wits. We saw glorious red rocks, a small forest of very large joshua trees and saw a wide variety of very unique cactus plants before crossing over to gold butte. All mine locations were obtained from the usgs mineral resources data system. Nevada gold mining ebook productive prospecting sites. Beans history and directory of nevada county, california books.
That, and the stories recorded on hundreds of petroglyph panels throughout gold butte are a window into some deep ancestral history and tradition. As you might suspect, the national monument was named after the gold butte mining district that was responsible for pumping out gold in the early 1900s. Explore gold butte, one of nevada s most spectacular wild places, and learn why it needs protection now. Silver city and gold hill mining the comstock lode in nevada. Chronicle of nevadas great basin is an interesting and informative. Is this a place or activity you would suggest for families. The latest book by jerry aaron about the history, explorers and geography of the silver state. This item has the signatures of the companys president, george wingfield and secretary, w. And even though nevada was best known for producing silver during the 19thcentury, considerable amounts of gold were also produced. Residing in the gold butte national monument this road travels down to a preexisting cove of lake mead.
In nevada, tribes push to protect land at the heart of bundy ranch standoff. Gold butte nevada has a new national monument after a 15year push. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Gold butte national monument friends of nevada wilderness. Containing a complete history of the county, with sketches of the various towns and mining camps. We host monthly guest speakers in mesquite on all outdoor topics like archeology, geology, desert animals, desert plants, history, and others. Gold butte lies just south of the bundy family ranch. Butte county, california mines western mining history. While touring the back country of gold butte you will uncover some of clark county nevadas greatest treasures.
Visiting gold butte national monument should be top of the list to anyone exploring the regions concentration of national parks. Maps showing locations of mines and prospects in the butte. A history of the silver state shepperson series in. Though virginia city got all the glory, silver city and gold hill played an important part in the history of the area. Brower, author of the images of america volume nevada city, is the former manager of the doris foley library for historical research in nevada city. Gold butte, nevada, atv routes on heavy paper stock. Desert wildflowers reports for nevada and utah desertusa. Other nearby attractions include whitney pockets, another scenic red rock area with petroglyphs, and the devils throat, a sinkhole. Get your 4x4 packed up for an adventure and explore whitney pocket, little finland, devils throat, gold butte townsite and the rest of the gold butte backcountry byway.
In my opinion nevada is the best state for gold prospectors. Nevada is also home to the hoover dam, which wasthe single largest public works project in the history of the united states, and lake mead, the largest reservoir in. Gold butte national monument is a united states national monument located in clark county, nevada, northeast of las vegas and south of mesquite and bunkerville. Gold butte vermiculite deposits, clark county, nevada freeman beach leighton on. If you are interested in looking for gold or learning how to find it, here is a collection of over fifty books and maps to get you started. Beautiful certificate from the black butte extension mining company issued in 1906. She also serves on the board of the nevada county historical society, edits its quarterly bulletin, and was the founder of the nevada county genealogical society. When we came out of the mountains, we turned south and traveled toward the nevada border gold butte national monument. Gold butte is located about 33 miles southeast of glendale. You can swing a metal detector for days and never see another prospector. Both are protected as part of the gold butte national monument, managed by the bureau of land management. Project of the nevada state historic preservation office and university of nevada, reno special collections. Just under 22 miles from the town of bunkerville, nevada, the primitive and remote gold butte area is currently being developed as a national monument.
By administering gold butte as a national monument the history of many of these cultures will slowly be erased and. Rugged, undeveloped mojave desert region on the north side of lake mead. This long awaited book will be welcomed as a comprehensive and candid. The first gold nugget in what would become known as gold canyon was actually discovered at devils gate, just north of. Jim boone, a board member of friends of gold butte, leads a hike through the little finland area of the gold butte wilderness in nevada. Kokopelli club rides the rides submitted by the kokopelli atv club in mesquite. Michael green explores the states history in his new book nevada.
Exploring nevada history history libguides at university of. Gold butte, the mountain, is 5,0 feet 1,528 m high and rises 1,280 feet 390 m above the town of gold butte. A history of the silver state in a free presentation at the dangberg home ranch historic park on sunday, september 27, at 10. Nevada petroglyph hike with the friends of gold butte. The helpful librarian guided me to a shelf of books on nevada history, but none of them mentioned gold butte in their indexes. The museum store is a valuable literary resource for the nevada community. The town was originally known for the mining of mica and was typical in that it resembled the layout of. An interview with jaina moan, executive director of friends of gold butte, and a photo essay capturing the beauty this landscape.
Ceremony marks pioneers return to gold butte grave almost two years after his grave was disturbed near the ghost town of gold butte, arthur coleman is back where he belongs. Its a victory for those like las vegas paiute tribe member fawn douglas who recreates gold butte s history through her art. Once in gold butte national monument the roads immediately improved. The brightly hued sandstone provides a stunning canvas for the areas famously beautiful rock art, and the desert provides. These two aspects of the area make for a beautiful. Mining is and always will be an important part of nevadas history. Best trails in gold butte national monument nevada. Light toning and edge wear on orange wrapper, clean interior. The many questions of gold butte high country news. Nevada city is among the most interesting of california gold rush towns, attracting visitors from far and wide.
Will nevadas gold butte remain a national monument. Feature gold butte is 300,000 acres of rugged wilderness in southern nevada with a history as rich and colorful as its sandstone mountains. Arthur coleman and william garrett met in 1916 in gold butte as the town was already fading into history. Jul 25, 2017 in gold butte in nevada, ancient rock art and rugged beauty. A history of the silver state has been named a choice outstanding title. Last month, i went on a group hike with katies dad through gold butte, a rocky portion of the mojave desert just south of the city of mesquite the gold butte area is actually named after a small gold mining town that used to exist there in the early 1900s. In the desert takes an interesting and historic trip to mines in the gold butte area. Gold butte is home to a rich abundance of natural history and cultural landmarks. Books about nevada, books of nevada flag store sign and banner. Some of the best sites are remote and rarely prospected.
Storey county was formed on november 25, 1861 as an original county in the nevada territory. Ceremony marks pioneers return to gold butte grave las. The entire downtown district is a national historic landmark where guests enjoy quality dining, lodging, and shops, all flavored with oldfashioned nevada city hospitality. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. Discover gold butte national monument of nevada travel nevada. Nevada new, used and rare books and ephemera at biblio. We are a nonprofit 501 c3 that strives to promote the responsible enjoyment of the gold butte national monument through education, stewardship, advocacy, and preservation of natural and cultural resources. List of books at nevada state library and archives. In gold butte in nevada, ancient rock art and rugged. Gold rush towns of nevada county, california images of. Gold butte is the name of a ghost town and nearby mountain peak in clark county, nevada.
The sierran is the historical societys newsletter containing the history and way of life in the early days of sierra county. Usgs topo maps the official government site for downloadable maps in. Is this a place or activity you would go to on a rainy day. Too early in gold butte, but there were several large green patches scattered around the monument. The study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts. Goldfield lost a significant portion of its population by 1910, not because the gold was gone, but because the cost of mining was to great. Some of these are also available in unlv special collections.