Battle Mountain History

The Hub for Culture, History and the Arts in Battle Mountain
Housed in a restored late 1920's ranch cookhouse, the Battle Mountain Cookhouse Museum is the area's first museum dedicated to the exhibition and preservation of regional history. In addition to displays of area artifacts, the Cookhouse Museum also hosts traveling cultural exhibitions, traditional and contemporary local art and a diverse array of cultural events including poetry and author readings, storytelling and artist's talks. The Museum building was moved from the 25 Ranch, once belonging to the W.T. Jenkins family. It served as a cookhouse and in later years as a bunkhouse.
Located on Broyles Ranch Road just off interstate 80, the bright red Cookhouse Museum offers various displays of local Native American and Chinese artifacts. The Museum captures the pioneer spirit of Lander County's first residents with snapshots of history: vintage kitchen ware, eyeglasses, formal clothing, antique cameras, school equipment, ranching tools and so much more.
The Lander County Historical Society's next exciting venture will resurrect the fond memories of the Battle Mountain Train Depot that was built in 1880 and demolished in 1988. This new building will resemble the Depot. It will allow expansion of the current galleries, provide additional space for community and visitor events, while highlighting the important role ranching, mining, and the railroad played in the development of Battle Mountain and the Silver State. This project will enhance and strengthen the already successful museum and will increase opportunities to welcome more visitors to our community and ultimately showcase our local history.
Take a step back in time into age-old memories. Visit the Cookhouse Museum!
Open Tuesday - Saturday from 12:00 - 4:00.

Please remember to exercise caution when exploring Nevada’s Ghost Towns & Mining camps. Open shafts, drifts going into mountainsides, and old buildings, are all DANGEROUS! Be aware of your surroundings and let someone know where you are, especially if your plans change. Also some of the property is privately owned, please gain permission before entering. Please do not attempt to drive to these locations without 4 wheel drive or an ATV.

Battle Mountain 
TENABO
A rush immediately developed after silver and gold ore was discovered during the summer of 1906. A town site was platted and by 1907 Tenabo had a population of 1,000. The residents supported a wide range of businesses including restaurants, hotels, assay office, grocery store, lumberyard, a school, and many saloons. A mill was built in nearby Mill Gulch. By 1909, most of the mines were controlled by the Tenabo Mining and Smelting Company. However, by 1911 the cost of producing the ore became higher than the value of the ore. The post office closed in 1912 and Tenabo quickly declined. The Tenabo mining and Smelting Company sold all of its holdings in 1920 after producing 12 million ounces of silver and 25,000 ounces of gold. Today, the property is actively being worked by the Flowery Gold Mines Company of Nevada. People still live in the camp where wooden buildings stand at the town site.

Hilltop
The town of Hilltop began in 1906 when prospectors discovered gold ore very close to the original discoveries of the 1860s. The Hilltop boom really got under way in 1908 and by 1909 there were 200 people living in Hilltop. The town itself was well developed with several fine houses, a school, numerous stores, and saloons. By 1912, mining activity was in full swing. Hilltop’s population varied greatly during the teens. By 1918, mining had slowed greatly and only about 50 residents were left. Various companies conducted operations during the period from 1920 to 1927 with various degrees of success. Hilltop still had about a dozen residents during the 1930s but by 1940 it had become a true ghost town. The remains at Hilltop are quite extensive. One could easily spend a full day exploring one of the best spots in Lander County. 

Galena
Before the buildings collapsed and the grave yard swelled, Galena was an old mining town rich with life and opportunities. In 1863 silver, gold and lead were discovered: the first camp was formed three years later. One hundred residents lived in Galena by 1868, and two years’ later the town was platted. The streets were soon crowded with stores, saloons, a town hall and a town watering system. By this time, Galena had a greater population than its neighboring Battle, Mountain. With a population of several hundred, Galena was in competition with Winnemucca for the county seat. However, when the Galena Range area was ceded to Lander County in 1874, seat dreams were shelved, because it was the same county as Austin, and even richer and larger town.

In 1871 Galena opened its first post office, which was run by B.F. Blossom for 12 years. With a population rise of 250 people, 100 being miners, the town now supported 2 hotels, four mercantile stores and 2 stage lines, Tuller and Cluggade and the Filippini which cost $3 each way, running from Galena to Battle Mountain. 
During the early and mid-1870’s, mining increased but by the early 1880’s, mining activities slowed dramatically. After a huge fire in 1889, Galena’s mining activity ended for the most part. Today Galena is a quite ghost town with remnants of its prosperous past scattered throughout the canyon.  For anyone wanting to visit and take pictures of a old mining town , Galena canton can be located 10 miles south of Battle Mountain on St Highway 305, turn right following the dirt road for 3 miles to Galena Canyon.

Bunker Hill 
Ore discoveries were made at Bunker Hill in 1863. In 1864, a mill was built at nearby Kingston that treated ore from the Bunker Hill mines. There was growth and activity at Bunker Hill that attracted a small camp. Some stone cabins were built but before substantial development could take place Kingston became the main settlement. Bunker Hill then became mainly a scene of mining activity with practically no permanent inhabitants. The mines were active until the mill closed in Kingston in 1869. A few stone remains still exist at Bunker Hill along with mines and other ruins. The setting is inviting, and with a wooded campground you can plan to stay and explore for a day or two. 
 

In 1879, a 60 year old unemployed carpenter built a stone wall over a mile long at Stoney Point as his personal memorial to the struggles of the California bound pioneers. “That monument is as lasting as the hills. It is the work of a master hand, a landmark for our youth; one that will have a place in our memory when their heads are bowed down with old age, and the sit around the firesides of their children telling tales of the frontier; and among them will be the Humboldt River, Rocky Point, and that stone fence up the mountain, four feet high and two miles in length, built by Hirum M. Carter, and known as “Carters Monument.” The monument is about seven miles north east of Battle Mountain, at Stoney Point.

Directions
It is approximately 10.4 total miles to the Monument. Please note the road conditions before traveling. Use a 4 wheel automobile and bring plenty of water.

Starting at the North edge of town on Reese Street ( by the Battle Mountain Livestock & Events Center), Go 5.6 miles to the railroad tracks and immediately turn right onto the paved road. At about 6.2 miles the pavement ends, and about 6.8 miles the road forks; keep to the left. At 7.9 miles you arrive at the Old Coastal Chemical Plant. Drive on past the entrance, heading south, toward the railroad tracks. On the left is a wooden sign marking the California Trail. Just past the sign the road will turn left, going between the old chemical plant and the railroad tracks. From here the road is not well maintained and you need to be careful of deep ruts and/or mud, depending on the time of year. Just as you pass the chemical plant, the road forks; take the left hand fork, crossing the railroad siding tracks.
At about 9.9 miles you will see a Trails West trail marker on the right side of the road. This is the Stoney Point Marker (#C-53). From this point you can see the stone wall as a faint line just below the crest of the hill immediately ahead of you. At about 10.2 miles you will be immediately below the beginning of the wall, but this is not a good place to stop as it is a narrow blind stretch of the road. Continue on about 10.4 miles where there is more room to park. You can either walk back along the road or climb up the hill to the power-line road about 75 feet up the hill and the walk back to the beginning of the wall, just around the hill.

The Battle Mountain Band of the Te-Moak tribe of Western Shoshone Indians has added to the rich heritage that this area enjoys.
Hundreds of years ago, the Battle Mountain region was the boundary area between the Newe (the ancestors of the Shoshone) and the Northern Paiutes; it was known to the Newe as "Tonomudza." Several Newe bands lived in the area, which was a focal point for rabbit and antelope drives. An influx of whites soon claimed the fertile regions along the Humboldt and its tributaries. The 1870s saw the coming of the Central Pacific Railroad and the founding of Battle Mountain. After the 1880s , the Newe continued to live on the outskirts of the town, and some found work on the ranches.
By 1917, the colony received official recognition for their lands. In the 10930s the Colony began building residential homes and a community development with the purchase and renovation of houses from the Getchell Mine near Winnemucca.
While the tribe's lifestyle has changed dramatically over the centuries, tribal leaders say they continue to acknowledge their deep connection to the land. Shoshone members continue to hunt, fish, pray and gather materials from the Newe Sogobia ("Earth Mother").
As modern-day basket weavers, tribal members gather together on a regular basis to ensure traditional knowledge and skills are shared and taught to sustain their relationship with the earth.
The Battle Mountain Colony has its own tribal council and operates a smoke shop/convenience store with plans for a truck stop as well. In addition, the community building was renovated and a playground, park, and picnic grounds were added. A senior citizens center is also located on the reservation as well as a newly added activity center.