Travel
Nevada
By
Barb Henderson
For the most part, when folks think of Nevada, images of the glitter and glamour
of Las Vegas and Reno come to mind. But the Western traveler will find the
Silver State diverse, especially those who venture away from the bright city
lights.
Located
on Highway 50 approximately four hours east of
Carson City, the small Western town of Eureka-dubbed "The
Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road in America"-claims
a past ripe for discoveries. Main Street seemed
quiet when we arrived, suggesting townsfolk were
busy elsewhere,
perhaps gathered at the nearby cafe sipping java,
while others worked cattle countryside.
It
was easy to envision horses and buggies that once bustled
along the mile-long main drag of this rural town in
East-Central Nevada. Founded in 1864, Eureka is a quaint
little country town that sits at 6,500 feet elevation,
a Western destination where cattle still out-number
automobiles.
Legend has it that the siren shout: "Eureka, I have found it!" originated
with Eureka miners after they discovered silver in the area back in 1860. Mining
and the railroad facilitated growth, and by the late 1870s, dozens of businesses
thrived.
Townsfolk
still use many of the historic buildings, and the Opera
House, built in 1880, is one of my favorites. Once
it was part of the main circuit for opera and theatrical
performances. By 1915, locals could watch silent movies
there and later Talkies. The last movie shown there
was in 1958. This remarkable building stood idle until
Eureka County had it restored in 1993. Today it's home
to the Convention and Cultural Arts Center.
Strolling
along on the self-guided walking tour from one historic
structure to the next, you truly begin to appreciate
what the early settlers had to endure in this small
mining town. The first schoolhouse enrolled 58 students
the first year, and the Jackson House continues to
board visitors. An old church and the seven cemeteries
located among the hillsides also are among the tour
sites.
When
mining was booming in the late 1870s and early 1880s,
Eureka ranked as the second largest town in Nevada,
with a population in the neighborhood of 9,000. Today
all Eureka County is home to roughly 1,650 residents.
And on any given day, you're also likely to see resident
wild horses roaming through the sagebrush or cowboys
herding cattle. Eureka has a way of tipping its hat
to the many visitors who admire the spectacular sunsets
that stretch across the Western skies.
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