13 Unique Old West and Mining Towns to Visit in Nevada

Known as the Silver State, Nevada is rich in mining history and has many wonderful Old West towns to visit, along with some interesting mine tours.

Below, (in no particular order,) are some of the more intriguing places to visit as well as some history for you to enjoy.

At one time, Goldfield was the largest city in Nevada, boasting 20,000 residents after gold was discovered in 1904. Once the gold dried up, so did the residents, although today, approximately 250 people still reside there.

Many of the original buildings still exist, like the courthouse, brothel, and Goldfield Hotel. Reconstructed buildings have been added to help restore the original Old West feel of the town. A walking tour is available.

There are several attractions to partake in, such as the Florence Mine tour (by appt. only), as well as a train ride and gunfights. The cemetery is pretty interesting, and if you go there, be sure to find its most famous rock epitaph, which reads "Unknown man died eating library paste." The town is a bit of a tourist trap, but if you're traveling with kids, it's a really fun stop.

The oldest settlement in Nevada, Genoa, was founded in 1851, 13 years before Nevada became a state. It was originally a trading post known as Mormon Station.

Genoa is also the location of Nevada's oldest bar, the Genoa Bar and Saloon (pictured above), which is very popular with tourists. (Try their Bloody Mary!)

The town has many historical buildings you can visit, including the original courthouse, which is now a museum with exhibits highlighting the Pony Express and Native Americans. Overall, the best thing to do here is to explore all of the Mormon Station State Historic Park, which will really give you some good history of the area.

Known as the "Queen of the Silver Camps," Tonopah (originally named Butler after the man who discovered silver there) was founded in 1900. During its mining peak, several thousand people lived there, although today only about 2,000 call it home.

Some of the original buildings still exist, like the Mitpah Hotel and Tonopah Post Office, along with the Stone Jail and Row House. However, the best attraction here is the Tonopah Historic Mining Park, which resides on over 100 acres of original mining claims and includes parts of four mining companies.

You can take a self-guided walking tour, or if you prefer, there's the Polaris tour, which is a two-hour guided ATV tour. (Reservations are required.)

Located in a remote area of the Toquima Mountains in central Nevada is the historic town of Belmont, which was founded in 1865 as a silver mining town. The town has a mix of old historic buildings you can visit as well as ruins of buildings that are crumbling.

Some of the historic buildings you can enter, while others you can only look through the windows. You can also view the remnants of three of the mills that operated in the town, as well as some of the old miners' cabins. If you want to visit a mill, I suggest the Belmont Mill as it's the best preserved.

Should you desire a drink, stop by Dirty Dicks and you'll be transported back to the days of Old West saloons.

If you like remote locations, the town of Jarbridge is considered the most remote town in Nevada and is situated in Elko County near the Idaho border. The town popped up in 1909 and produced 10 million dollars in gold before the mines closed in the 1930s.

The town has the distinction of having the last stagecoach robbery in the U.S., and there are several historic buildings you can visit. I recommend stopping by the jail as it has some interesting artifacts inside.

Because of its location, this is not a major tourist attraction, which makes exploring the town even better. Be sure to stop by the Red Dog Saloon for a real feel of a sagebrush saloon.

The most photographed ghost town in Nevada, Rhyolite, was established in 1904. At its peak in 1907-1908, approximately 10,000 people lived there. However, once the mine closed in 1911, the town saw a steady decline until it was completely abandoned by 1924.

Many of the original buildings are in ruins, but are actually quite interesting to see, such as the Rhyolite school and Cook Bank. The train depot is still in pretty good shape, and the most unique building in this town is the Tom Kelly Bottle House, which was built in 1906 and constructed out of 50,000 bottles.

Situated on Highway 50, which is known as the "Loneliest Road in America," is the old mining town of Eureka, established in 1864. At one time, this was a very bustling town that was home to over 100 saloons and 25 gambling halls.

There are several historic buildings to check out in the historic area of town, and free maps are given so you can take your own walking tour. In addition, there's an underground tunnel tour you can take, but you'll need to make reservations for it. If you're planning to stay the night, there's the Jackson Hotel, which was built in 1877 and maintains the charm of its glory days. One thing you should know, though. It's haunted!

Austin was founded in 1862 after a Pony Express horse happened to kick over a rock, and silver was found. Just a little over a year later at the end of 1863, the population of the town had grown to 7,000 people.

Many original buildings still exist from Austin's Boomtown days as well as three of the oldest churches in Nevada. You'll also find some original watering holes, with the Lucky Spur being one of the favorite Sagebrush Saloons in the area.

Just outside of Austin is the Stokes Castle, built in 1897 as a summer home for Anson Stokes, a wealthy mine developer and businessman. The building is three stories high and made of stone. You can't go inside, but you can walk the grounds and, at the same time, get a wonderful view of the Reese River Valley. Note: You'll have to travel on a gravel road to get there, but the road is accessible for all vehicles.

Starting as a mining camp, the town of Nelson emerged in 1861 when gold and silver mining were prevalent in the area. One of the richest gold mines was the Techatticup Mines, which was also known for many disputes and even murders.

There are several old buildings that are intact, including the chapel, which is still used today for weddings. Although not Old West, there is quite a collection of old rusted cars and trucks to see, along with a crashed airplane.

In addition, you can take a 45-minute narrated tour of the Techatticup Mine. A quick word of caution. Some of the ceilings of the mine are low, so be sure to watch your head!

The Old West mining town of Berlin is located in the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, and what makes this destination so unique is that it's two destinations in one. First, you have the town of Berlin, which was founded in 1897 due to gold found in the area.

In this remote area, the town only grew to 300 people, but produced $849,000 in gold. Many of the old buildings exist along with the 30-stamp mill. In addition, there are quite a few outdoor displays.

What else makes this location so unique is that this is where 225-million-year-old ichthyosaur fossils have been found. If visiting, you can take a self-guided tour of the town, a guided tour of the Fossil House, where you can see the bones of the ancient ichthyosaur, as well as learn information about this extinct marine reptile, or take a tour of the Diana Mine.

Initially a mining camp in 1868, Gold Point grew as silver was discovered in 1902, followed by gold in 1927. Due to the government's closure of the mines during WWII, the miners had no choice but to stop mining and move on.

About 50 historic buildings are still standing. Some are in great shape and still used today, while some are more in ruins. In addition, there are tons of artifacts throughout the town.

What's really fun is that you can stay in a historic miner's cabin. (Two-night minimum requirement.) The cabins are quite rustic, and while some have running water, others don't (although a camp toilet is provided at night).

Established in 1859, Silver City's time as a successful mining town was short-lived, and activity dropped off in 1869. Although at one time it boasted a population of 1,200 and was home to boarding houses, saloons, and hotels, the town now only has about 111 residents.

There are still some of the town's original buildings that can be seen, although some are in arrested decay. One of the best buildings in town is the one that houses the Silver City Museum, which, at one time, was the H. B. Ailman House, a former prospector in the area.

I personally wouldn't go out of my way just to visit this town, but if visiting Virginia City (see below), it's just a few miles away, and in that case, it's worth the visit.

The one-time Boomtown of Virginia City is known for its Comstock lode, producing over $600,000 in silver and gold. The main street of the town is filled with historic buildings, including the Delta Saloon and Bucket of Blood, which have been in business since the Old West days. In addition, there are several other original buildings in town you can visit.

There are two mine tours available. One is at the Ponderosa Mine Tour located at the Ponderosa Saloon. The other, more extensive tour is the Chollar Mine Tour, which is a 45-minute underground tour. Tours of some of the town's most famous buildings are also available.

If staying the night, consider staying in one of the town's haunted hotels or taking a nighttime ghost tour, as Virginia City is considered to be one of the most haunted towns in America.

As you can see, there are lots of interesting Old West cities to visit in Nevada, along with some interesting mine tours. The weather varies throughout the year, so be sure to check the temperatures and weather conditions before visiting and have a great time exploring the Old West!