Dayton

"Oh! Here's one you can read right out your car window ... as you're waiting for the light to change at the only stoplight in town. Or, you can walk right up to it from behind as you're pumping gas at the Chevron! One of Nevada's oldest communities, symbolized at an inconspicuous location." -- May 2007

SW corner of US 50 and Dayton Valley Road -- Dayton

Original Date Visited: 5/30/07
Revisited: 11/14/22
Signed: Both lanes of US 50

Marker History: The original alloted spot for Marker 7 in April of 1994 was on the northeast corner of Dayton's main intersection of US 50 (Main Street/Dayton Valley Rd.) on the grounds of the Carson & Colorado Railroad Depot building. This would've been the most ideal locations, but funds and land allotments forced the Office to choose its present spot on the southwest corner here. With rapid growth in the Dayton area, this one quickly fell to the wayside. This busy intersection required a complete upgrade to a four-lane highway status through town and the fate of the marker looked uncertain. Five years later, the Nevada Department of Transportation finished the road project in a surprising way by installing a metal plaque, so consistent with the Standard style you see in most markers, that covers its original Stone face.

At the height of Nevada's 150th Sesquicentennial in 2015, the SHPO removed the metal plaque and completely re-etched the lettering you see today as an homage to the past. Marker 7's location is a bit of a headache, but an understandable compromise. Back in the day, before Dayton's massive surge of growth, Marker 7 was okay, but today it seems a little out of place. Every now and then the thousands of commuters who travel past this intersection every single day may or may not notice it out of the corner of their eye as they're stopped at the traffic light.

TWO FOR ONE

This marker shares its site with - 163 - Chinatown (Early Name of Dayton)

Street View

Here's what you'll see!

Marker 7 at my initial conquering in 2007 Marker 7 in 2022. Notice the lack of the metal plaque You'll find a myriad of fascinating plaques around this intersection

Exact Description:
Dayton, one of the earliest settlements in Nevada was first known as a stopping place on the river for California-bound pioneers. Coming in from the desert they rested here before continuing westward.

In 1849, gold was found at the mouth of Gold Canyon and prospecting began in the canyons to the west. This led to the discovery of the fabulous ore deposits at Gold Hill and Virginia City in 1859.

Called by several different names in its early years, the place became Dayton in 1861, named in honor of John Day who laid out the town.

For many decades Dayton prospered as a mill and trading center and remained the county seat for Lyon County until 1911.

Dayton VS. Genoa

Dayton's Film History

COVERED IN MY US 50 ROAD TRIP

Next Marker

AUSTIN

Related Links & Markers:

- 13 - The Comstock Lode - 257 - Nevada's First Gold Discovery Nevada Towns: Dayton History of Dayton Dayton State Park (Nevada State Parks)

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