Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Egan Canyon, Nevada September 2, 2011


Is this post a location of a grave in the canyon?

Directions: Egan Canyon is located approximately 60 miles south of West Wendover, Nevada, off of US 93. You can access the canyon by taking a connector road from Cherry Creek or by driving the historic Pony Express route from Schellbourne, Nevada. Either way the road is passable in a two wheel drive car in dry weather. Make sure to carry extra water and have a full tank of gas. This area is remote.

History: Egan Canyon is the location of many of the mines which made Cherry, Nevada, one of the best- producing silver and gold distrticts in White Pine County. It all began with the discovery of gold in 1872 in Egan Canyon. Within a year nine mines would be working the area including the Exchequer, Flagstaff and Tea Cup Mines. A five stamp, 25 ton mill called the Thompson would be built in the canyon to process the ore. Businesses associated with a mining town were built including boarding houses, a brewery and restaurants. Major mining activities would occur in Egan Canyon and the surrounding country off and on through 1940. (Information from Old Heart of Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of Elko County By: Shawn Hall). To read more infomation about Cherry Creek, Nevada, look at my February post.
Egan Canyon also served as a Pony Express station from 1860-1861. At these stations riders would change horses as they carried mail from Saint Josephs, Missouri, to Sacremento, California.
Mining ruins in the canyon
My car in true Nevada desert country
Ruins of a house
Below: The entrance to an old mine. Make sure to heed the warning sign and not enter any mine. This old mines are extremely dangerous with toxic fumes and unstable support systems.

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