Ophir
Nye County, Nye County, Nevada
Marker Inscription
Ophir. Well up into the canyon above, the massive stone foundations of a costly and splendid stamp mill as well as the stone walls of an elegant office and mansion are visible. This is the site of Ophir, now a ghost town.In 1863, S. Boulerond discovered ore at Ophir. In 1864, the Murphy Mine opened and became the leading local producer. In 1865, a 20-stamp mill was completed costing over $200,000. This included the first experimental Stetefeldt furnace ever built. When the Murphy Mill was built, the town of Toiyabe City was established, growing to a population of 400. Through poor management, the work in the mines declined in 1869. Ophir was almost deserted. In the 1880s, the mines were reactivated, and Ophir had another period of prosperity. By the 1890s, the town was deserted but some mining activity at the Murphy Mine continued sporadically into the 20th century.More than $3,000,000 worth of gold and silver were mined from the Murphy vein and from surrounding properties. Iron, copper and arsenic were also found in the area.Ophir managed to have all the accouterments of a large community, including a school, a church, various lodges, and, of course, several saloons.
Erected by Central Nevada Redevelopment Association
The Story
High in the canyon above stand the massive stone foundations of Ophir, once a thriving silver camp. Ore discovered in 1863 led to the Murphy Mine and, in 1865, a $200,000 twenty-stamp mill that housed the first experimental Stetefeldt furnace ever built, anchoring the town of Toiyabe City and its 400 residents. After a decline in 1869 and a revival in the 1880s, the mines yielded more than three million dollars in gold and silver before the town was deserted by the 1890s—yet in its heyday it boasted schools, a church, lodges, and plenty of saloons.
Why it matters
Ophir's ruins mark both a classic Nevada boom-and-bust and a birthplace of milling innovation that helped make Western silver mining profitable.
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Related people
- · S. Boulerond
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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