Tonopah Historic Mining Park Traditional Geocache
Bntmo: Cache is no longer wanted by property owner.
Tonopah Historic Mining Park
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Take some time out of your drive to visit a piece of history. The Tonopah Historic Mining Park is a great place to spend some time exploring some of the area's mining history.
This is a log only cache and is located in the visitor's center next to the visitors log. This cache is ONLY AVAILABLE DURING HOURS LISTED BELOW.
The Tonopah Historic Mining Park is located on the site of the original mining claims that started the rush to Tonopah, making it “Queen of the Silver Camps”. Jim and Belle Butler’s strike in 1900 brought the United States into the 20th Century, and many of the mining processing techniques developed during that time are still being used today.
The park encompasses portions of four of the original major mining companies and covers more than 100 acres. This rich history is brought to life through preserved and restored equipment and buildings, historic exhibits, video presentations (in the on-site theater), and a self-guided tour. All of the buildings located on the property are open for visitors to enjoy. You can experience for yourself how it was to work in a turn-of-the-century mine.
The grounds are constantly changing. New exhibits are added frequently and restoration of existing buildings is ongoing.
Open April thru September, 7 days a week from 9:00am - 5:00pm
October thru March, 7 days a week from 10:00am - 4:00pm
Free admission to Visitor's Center.
Over a century of mining...
As the story goes, Jim Butler was camping around Tonopah Springs, the spring of 1900 when his burro wandered off. While chasing it, Jim picked up a rock to throw at it & discovered some promising looking ore. He continued his journey and showed the samples to others, who showed little interest. After returning to his home in Belmont, Butler told a young attorney named Tasker Oddie about his discovery. Tasker had a friend who taught chemistry in Austin, and he enlisted the teacher's help in assaying the sample. The ore valued at more than $200 a ton. Jim's wife, Belle urged him to travel once again to the site of the original find and filed eight claims and removed several tons of ore. For a one quarter share, Wilse Brougher hauled the ore by horse and wagon to Austin, then by rail to Salt Lake City for smelting.
That first shipment netted the partners $500.00, which was used to buy equipment needed for further development. As venture capital was difficult to obtain, Jim, Belle and their partners implemented the unusual concept of mine claim leasing by the foot. These leases, which were sealed by a handshake, gave the lessor 75% of all profits from his claim and greatly speeded the development of the district. Many of the miners got rich under this arrangement. The practice then quickly spread to other mining districts.
The Butlers eventually sold their interests in the properties to a Philadelphia financier, who formed the Tonopah Mining Co. The assets of this new company exceeded one million dollars. Tasker Oddie subsequently formed the Tonopah Belmont Development Company with production between the two, totaling more than half of the precious metals from the mining district.
History tells us that the mines in this district produced in excess of five million tons of ore. At today's market the precious metals produced would be valued in excess of $1,200,000,000.
And there were no taxes!
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