International Hotel
Lander County, Lander County, Nevada
Marker Inscription
International Hotel. FIRST COMMERCIAL BUILDINGCONSTRUCTED IN AUSTIN1863This structure was built of lumber from the first International Hotel, constructed in Virginia City.David E. Buel constructed the hotel after being refused a free lot in Clifton at the mouth of the canyon below. Buel, Frederick Baker, W.C. Harrington, and John Veatch located and recorded the original townsite of Austin.STATE HISTORIC
Erected by Bert Acree
The Story
Built in 1863 from lumber salvaged from Virginia City's first International Hotel, this was the first commercial building raised in the new silver camp of Austin. David E. Buel put it up after being refused a free lot down the canyon in Clifton — and Buel, along with Frederick Baker, W. C. Harrington, and John Veatch, went on to locate and record Austin's original townsite. The hotel thus stood at the very founding of one of central Nevada's great Reese River mining towns.
Why it matters
The International Hotel marks the literal first building of Austin, embodying how quickly a silver strike could conjure a full-fledged town out of the Nevada desert.
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Related people
- · David E. Buel
- · Frederick Baker
- · W. C. Harrington
- · John Veatch
Themes & tags
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