Cherry Creek

[52]       

Cherry Creek

White Pine County
  39.90089, -114.88547

"As is the case in any old occupied mining town, my presence is eyed upon with steadfast gaze. A protective gaze. A warranted gaze. If this was my town, I would be terse as well. Cherry Creek, suited in its dusty exterior coat still beats with a conscious, immortalized heart. Life here is both short and extended." -- Journal Entry, March 2008

Along Cherry Creek Road, 8.3 miles west of US 93 -- Cherry Creek

Original Date Visited: 3/14/08

Signed: You'll find one severely faded on the westbound side of Cherry Creek Road at the entrance to town. (The only reason a sign exists at all on this remote pavement is because this road used to be a state highway before it was relinquished. Otherwise, the posting of a sign would've been very unlikely.)

  • [52] Marker 52 plaque in Cherry Creek
  • [52] Slow down as you enter Cherry Creek!
  • [52] Louisas Cabin in downtown Cherry Creek
  • [52] The cemetery in Cherry Creek is one of the best in Nevada
  • [52] Marker 52

Exact Description:
Here, at one time, was the largest town in White Pine County. Part of the Cherry Creek Mining District, Cherry Creek's years of largest gold and silver production were between 1872 and 1883. At the peak of its prosperity, the town had an estimated population of 6,000.

Five miles south of here is Egan Canyon where one of the oldest gold mines in Nevada was located. As early as 1850, Indians mined gold there. A stage station was located by Major Howard Egan in 1859 for Woodward and Chorpenning's California Mail Co. In 1860, it was used by the Pony Express as a change station, and from 1861 to 1869 was an Overland Stage Station.

In 1864, a five-stamp mill, the first such in eastern Nevada, and a small mining camp were constructed. Most of the early activity has ceased by 1883, but in 1897 there was a great revival in mining activity, which lasted into the early 1900's. During this period, prior to the completion of the Nevada Northern Railroad in 1906, freight and passenger traffic was via long streams of massive freight wagons and stagecoaches from Toana and Wells. In 1933, the old mine was reopened and a new camp was built. Production from the Egan Mine over the years has been approximately $3,000,000.

Marker 52 at the scenic mining camp of Cherry Creek.

Next Marker:

HAMILTON

Related Links & Markers

 [100] -- Nevada Northern Railway   Nevada Towns: Cherry Creek 

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