Galena

"Interesting site. Sitting here on the creek, I've concluded that years before ... rewind maybe ten or fifteen years ... before the housing boom hit Reno, this was probably an ideal location for this marker. The town site of Galena is now buried by suburbia. Considering its close proximity to private property and although the owner doesn't seem to mind visitors to the marker, we can probably regard this one as endangered. An endangered historic marker? Stranger things happen in Nevada everyday." -- July 2007

[212]       

16001 Callahan Rd. -- South Reno

Reno & Washoe County
  39.362740, -119.817740

Original Date Visited: 7/10/07
Revisited: 11/22/22
Signed: No

Notes: Quite honestly, I'm still shocked that Marker 212 exists in this very residential area of south Reno. See, 212 sits right in front of a private residence at what appears to be a large pullout or dirt parking area, but after a bit of research, I learned that this pullout actually belongs to Washoe County Parks, so we're safe here. Washoe County Parks did us a service here by placing a parking area and trailhead for the Galena Creek Trail right across the bridge. This hidden gem offers a lovely 3-mile round-trip hike through the pines up Galena Creek to Mt. Rose Highway. However, if you use the trail, please park at the trailhead to avoid any possible mishaps with the locals.

Street View

Here's what you'll see!

Exact Description:
Galena had a dual personality. It was developed in 1860 as a mining property by R.S. and Andrew Hatch. The Hatch brothers quartz mill and smelter were among the earliest erected on this side of the Sierras. The gold float from the local mines contained a heavy admixture of lead sulphide, "galena," which caused the mining operations to be non-paying, but the mills continued to operate, processing ores from the Comstock mines. The severe winter of 1864-65 interrupted freighting to Virginia City, and the ensuing mining depression forced the Galena mills to close.

The town also developed into an important lumbering center. Eleven sawmills were operating by 1863, and Galena boasted stores, lodging houses, a justice court, a school which doubled as a community hall, saloons, and dozens of homes. After two disastrous fires in 1865 and 1867, Galena was abandoned.

Marker 212 before it was upgraded. There's two things to notice here: the difference in paint color between these images and the ones above. Also, notice the road climbing up the hill in the background. This road leads up to all that's left of the old town: a set of faint mine dumps.

This is the scenic Galena Creek Trail here at Callahan Park. See the link below.

Next Marker

LAKEVIEW

Related Links & Markers:

 Nevada Towns: Galena   Galena Creek Trail (All Trails)   Galena (NV Tami) 

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