Sand Mountain

"Ironic. For such a sacred place, Sand Mountain is THE place to play in the sand. Cool autumn days like this one, make this austere place, a rather rowdy and crowded one." -- July 2007

[10]       

Along US 50, 20 miles east of Fallon

Churchill
  39.274990, -118.413290

Original Date Visited: 7/12/07
Signed: Both lanes of US 50


Marker History: In a strange, but welcomed twist, Marker 10 was completely re-furbished for Nevada's 150th sesquicentennial celebration. Truthfully, this is one marker that didn't really need any maintenance, but for some reason, the SHPO thought it needed to be redone. With this new dedication in 2015, Marker 10 was rededicated using the Original Stone version as per the style for Markers 1-20. All the images below were taken before Nevada's 150th.

Street View

Here's what you'll see!

Exact Description:
Sand Mountain, dominating Salt Wells Basin, is a prominent landmark in Nevada's early history. The Northern Paiute know it as Kwazi, the name of the snake that inhabits the dune, its backbone forming the crest of the mountain. Captain James H. Simpson of the Army Corps of Topographical Engineers surveyed the Central Overland Wagon Road through here in 1859. The following year, the Pony Express followed Simpson's alignment and the Sand Springs Pony Express Station was established less than a mile to the northwest. Sir Richard Burton visited the station in 1860, marveling at the "hourglass" shape of the dune. The station, abandoned and covered by a dune, was re-exposed in 1976 by archaeologists investigating life at the station.

The remains of Sand Springs Station represents one of more inhospitable stations along the Pony Express.

Loneliest Road, Grimes Point & Sand Mountain

US 50 Roadtrip
 COVERED IN MY US 50 ROAD TRIP

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EUREKA

Related Links & Markers:

 - 176 - The Surveyors   - 271 - Pony Express Trail (Sesquicentennial)   Nevada Stations (National Pony Express Association) 

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