BATTLE MOUNTAIN


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Battle Mountain derives its economy from mining, ranching and tourism. It offers year round access to vast public lands where you can hike, camp, hunt, and fish without ever seeing another soul.

To many people it may come as a surprise to learn that the area around Battle Mountain offers a wide variety of hunting, fishing and trapping opportunities. Passers by looking from Interstate 80 at the mountains surrounding Battle Mountain have a difficult time imagining healthy populations of wildlife existing there. These mountains appear barren from the freeway but are actually just the opposite once a person enters the canyons. Most of these canyons have perennial streams or springs. A wide variety of wildlife species utilize this water.

The Native Americans: Here the territories of three separate tribes converged - to the west, the Northern Paiute, to the east, the Western Shoshone, and to the north, the fearsome Bannock.

Fur trappers and explorers: Peter Skeen Ogden and John Work of the Hudson's Bay Co.; Joseph Walker; and John C. Fremont, all came this way, following the Humboldt River west.

The Early Emigrants: Between 1841 and the discovery of gold in 1848, over 2700 people traveled to California along the Humboldt River; the most notable being the Bartelson-Bidwell Party, the first party of emigrants to make this fearsome trip, with 18-year-old Nancy Kelsey, pregnant and carrying her 6 month old daughter; and the ill fated Donner Party, heading for their date with destiny on the snow-covered Sierra.

The 49ers: Over 200,000 people came through here on their way to California and the gold fields of the Sierra. Stony Point, just north of town, was a famous (notorious) landmark on the trail, and the site of three attacks in 1857 that are the basis for the town's name.

The Transcontinental Railroad: In 1868 the Central Pacific Railroad, the western half of the Transcontinental railroad that connected Sacramento with Omaha and points east, arrived in Battle Mountain, on the way to meeting the Union Pacific Railroad at Promontory Point. For years, the two story, fifty room Capital Hotel in downtown Battle Mountain was a meal stop for the trains, famous for its fine cuisine; and the site of the very first women's suffrage meeting ever held in Nevada, on July 4, 1870.

Early Aviation: Battle Mountain was a stop on the very first transcontinental air race, held in 1919, one leg of which was won by a flyer from Battle Mountain. In 1929 the first airmail beacons were installed along the Humboldt River and Battle Mountain became an emergency field. In 1931 Amelia Earhart landed here in her Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogyro en route to California just after setting a new world's altitude record; and during WWII Battle Mountain was a reserve field for the bomber base at Wendover, where the crews trained to drop the atomic bomb.



Things to see in and around Battle Mountain


Historic Walking Tour: Experience a walk around town on our historical walking tour. Our tour consists of 21 historic homes and buildings. Many of the older homes you will see as you look around Battle Mountain were moved in from surrounding mine camps such as Hilltop, Getchel and Natomas. Battle Mountain has maintained it's historic existence due to mining and ranching. Although many structures are gone today, we hope you enjoy a look at some of our remaining past.

Mine Tour: Schedule a mine tour and see how gold is mined today. Phoenix Mine, a division of Newmont Mining, located just 15 miles south of Battle Mountain on SR 305 provides tours every 3rd Thursday of the month.

World Human Powered Speed Challenge: Battle Mountain is home to this world famous recumbent racer competition. It all happens on a specially prepared 5 miles stretch of SR 305 approximately 15 miles south of town. The record for the fastest land speed is 82.819 mph set by Sam Whittingham from British Columbia, Canada in 2009. The fastest women's record was set by Barbara Bautois from Draveil, France in 2010 at 75.69 mph. This event is amazing and held early to mid-September each year.

Carter's Monument: In 1879, a 60-year-old unemployed carpenter built a stone wall over a mile long at Stony 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 or memory when their heads are bowed down with old age, and they 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 Hiram M. Carter, and known as 'Carter's Monument.'"The monument is about seven miles northeast of Battle Mountain, at Stony Point. Detailed guide books to the site are available for free at the Chamber.

Battle Mountain Cookhouse Museum: On September 8, 2012 the museum opened its doors to visitors. It is located on Broyles Ranch Road and has since seen hundreds of guests enjoying the varied displays of Native American Baskets, antique cameras, vintage eyeglasses and many other items from the Northern Nevada region. There is a library where guests can read about people and events of the past. The building is the cookhouse from 25 Ranch once belonging to the W.T. Jenkins family and moved to the current location in 2000. The museum's primary function is education and preservation of regional history. It also serves as a location for traveling cultural exhibits and local artist's work. There is an annual cookout in September each year.

Shoshone OHV Trail System: Located about 26 miles south of town, the BLM has completed phase I of this new trail system. It is open to vehicles less than 50" in width and UTV's and ATV's over 50" can ride existing roads in the surrounding area. About 42 miles of routes are currently open and another 17 miles planned for phase II. This is a great place to have family fun on your favorite off-road vehicle. It is open year round but use is encouraged from July 1 through November 30 as it is not maintained in the winter and it poses less potential disturbance to wildlife, cattle, and wild horses.

Copper Basin Mountain Bike Trailhead: Located 3 miles South of town on SR 305. The trail system is marked with brown fiberglass markers with loops offering a variety of technical and aerobic challenges. Remember to bring plenty of water.

Mountain View Golf Course: One mile south of town on Highway 305. Enjoy 18 holes of challenging golf in the shadow of the Shoshone Mountain Range. Pro shop, bar and restaurant. Open 7 a.m. to ? seven days a week. (775) 635-2380.

Mill Creek Canyon: Located about 19 miles south of Battle Mountain off of Highway 305, Mill Creek Canyon has lots of history, and an improved camping area operated by the BLM, with fire pits, toilets, and tables. Just above the campground was the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp from the 1930s. It is rumored that bandits buried silver further up the canyon.

Lewis Canyon: Located about 6 miles southeast of town, off Jenkins Road, Lewis Canyon once had a thriving town, mines and a narrow gauge railroad that connected the mines with Battle Mountain and the Central Pacific Railroad. Here are old mill sites and relics of the past.

Oh, and about the name: After 9 years of extensive research, here is the definitive story on the name "Battle Mountain." In 1857 there were three incidents at Stony Point: On August 12, a single wagon occupied by the Wood family was attacked; on the 15th, a single wagon occupied by the Holloway family, another couple and Mrs. Holloway's brother was attacked; and on August 24th, a group of government surveyors were also attacked.

These events were recorded in detail in both emigrant diaries and the official reports of the surveyors. Then, in 1866 a miner named George Tannehill discovered copper ore in the area and formed a mining district he called the Battle Mountain Mining District. When asked where the name came from, he replied that back in '57 he and Cap'n Pierson and 23 emigrants had fought the Indians here. Unfortunately, he appears to have been lying - there is no mention of a Tannehill, Pierson or 23 emigrants anywhere in the records of the attacks or the migration of 1857. But then, this is Nevada where you never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Lander County Convention & Tourism
470 S. Broad St.
Battle Mt., NV 89820
Phone: 775-635-1112
Fax: 775-635-1113
www.landercountytourism.com


Links of Interest:
Lander County, Nevada
Bureau of Land Management