Schellbourne
White Pine County, White Pine County, Nevada
Marker Inscription
Schellbourne. Schellbourne was a mail station and town, located approximately four miles east of this marker in Stage Canyon, nestled in the Schell Creek mountain range. The Pony Express established a mail station and corral there in 1860, providing mail service to the region until 1861, when the Overland Stage company took over the route. A small military post known as Fort Schellbourne joined the station until 1862, protecting the stage line during the conflicts between whites and the Newe (Goshute and Western Shoshone) Indians.Prospectors discovered silver ore in the mountains immediately to the east of Schellbourne in the early 1870s, and created the Aurum Mining District in 1871. An active mining camp developed with a population of over 500 people. By 1885, the ore had been mostly depleted, with other mining towns like Cherry Creek drawing residents away. The district and adjacent valley were acquired by Uncle Billy” and Eliza Burke as a ranch and hotel. Schellbourne has subsequently operated as the headquarters for various ranches since that time.
Erected by White Pine Public Museum Inc.
The Story
Tucked in Stage Canyon in the Schell Creek Range, Schellbourne began as a Pony Express station and corral in 1860, passing to the Overland Stage in 1861. A small military post, Fort Schellbourne, guarded the line until 1862 during conflicts with the Goshute and Western Shoshone. When prospectors struck silver in the early 1870s, the Aurum Mining District drew a camp of over 500 people, but the ore ran out by 1885 as rivals like Cherry Creek pulled residents away. The site has served as ranch headquarters ever since.
Why it matters
Schellbourne layers the West's transportation, military, and mining history in one small canyon, tracing how a mail stop became a mining camp and finally a working ranch.
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Related events
- · Pony Express
Themes & tags
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