Goldfield is an unincorporated community and the county seat of esmeralda county, nevada. The goldfield hotel lies in the small town of goldfield surrounded by the nevada desert. And like all the major firsts, its one ill remember for the rest of my life. Goldfield s heyday embraced both the final days of the western frontier and the beginning of the automobile age, and its brief but brilliant history combined elements of both. Goldfield became nevadas largest city with over 20,000 people. Bernard baruch provided some of the initial financing and herbert hoover engineered the early development. The goldfield historical society is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the history and heritage of goldfield, nevada for present and future generations we hope you enjoy this web site.
Located along highway 95, this large hotel, built in 1908, is a reminder of a more prosperous time in goldfield. Built in a ushape in order to ensure outside windows for each guest room, t. As is the way in most of nevadas history, a massive fire in 1923 devoured the town, and 27 blocks were destroyed in its wake. The historic hotel was open a hundred years ago when the population of goldfield was more than 20,000. It is the basic story of discovery, boom, and bust that professor zanjani recounts. Goldfield is located 247 miles 398 km southeast of carson city, along u. Goldfield hotel luxury in the nevada desert legends of america. Im just going to focus this post on my experience while at the hotel. Exploring the goldfield hotel first person, present tense. In contrast, in the early 1900s goldfields population swelled to over 30,000 after the local residents found gold.
The goldfield corporation has had an interesting and colorful history. She also teaches the popular courses ghosthunting 101 and nevadas quirky historical facts for the community education program at truckee meadows community college. She also teaches the popular courses ghosthunting 101 and nevada s quirky historical facts for the community education program at truckee meadows community college. Lady in red, the hotel s most famous prostitute, is known to touch mens hair or rub up against them. Nevada s leading institution of higher education is the univ. Lady in red, the hotels most famous prostitute, is known to touch mens hair or rub up against them. The boom, however, did not last and goldfield, confronted with a major labor dispute, was headed for oblivion. The fourstory brick structure faces columbia street with a tripartite facade comprising a recessed central section and two flanking room wings. Many psychics who have visited the old hotel claim that it is a gateway into another world. Research on this book included several interviews with his friends and family members, his attorney, court records personal letters, and a visit to indiana.
We had to do a project on something that had happened in nevada within a certain timeframe. Living in nevada, it is exciting to read the history of places ive visited, and. Manuscripts by collection name university of nevada, las. To the south of town the international car forest is the main draw for travelers. Goldfield, nevada, was one of the wests last mining boomtowns, centered on a fabulously rich gold deposit discovered in 1902 and exhausted by 1920. In 1908, the goldfield hotel, designed by architect george e. I love the pictures of early goldfield, as well as books of its history. Goldfield was originally established in 1902, and became the largest city in the state of nevada, and probably the wealthiest. Goldfield real estate goldfield nv homes for sale zillow.
Years after it welcomed its last guest, the hotel still stands as part of the central nevadas storied history. The most haunted hotel in the nation is the goldfield hotel. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. This book was quite informative and interesting to read. The town of goldfield was born when gold was discovered in 1902 and within just a few short years, it became the largest city in nevada, as millions of dollars in ore were extracted from area mines. I wanted something different from the expected indian wars or wagon trains. Built on the former site of the nevada hotel, which had burned down in a fire in 1905, the hotel was first owned by j.
Goldfield hidden history and old west haunts of colorado. Nevada s harsh but rich environment shaped its history and culture. It is our hope that it will show you, through pictures and articles, the excitement that was and is goldfield, nevada. The hotel is abandoned but represents the history and feel of this ghost town that over 100 years was a big, happening and prosperous city in nevada. The goldfield hotel is often seen as the centerpiece of the town. Virgil earp was made sheriff here in 1904 and wyatt earp also called goldfield home.
Before 1858 small mormon settlements existed along the border of utah, with the western part stumbling along until the great silver strikes beginning in 1858 created boom towns and fabulous fortunes. History early exploration in the 1770s several spanish explorers came near the area of presentday nevada but it was not until half a century later that fur traders venturing into the rocky mts. Goldfields heyday embraced both the final days of the western frontier and the beginning of the automobile age, and its brief but brilliant history combined elements of both. Goldfield nevada ghosts of goldfield goldfield map. Apr 17, 2014 research on this book included several interviews with his friends and family members, his attorney, court records personal letters, and a visit to indiana.
List of books and articles about nevada history online. The hotel was constructed at the site where two previous wooden hotels had stood. But this is a recent attraction, for most of the towns history, its showpiece was the legendary goldfield hotel. Mar 27, 2014 nevadas goldfield hotel today goldfield is a small former mining town between las vegas and reno that has a population of 500. At its height, goldfield boasted a population of 30,000, three newspapers, five banks, a mining stock exchange, and what was most likely the longest bar in any mining town. The goldfield hotel is an historic fourstory building located at the southeast corner of crook avenue u. The goldfield historical society is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the history and heritage of goldfield, nevada for present and future generations. Years after it welcomed its last guest, the hotel still stands as part of the central nevada s storied history. The most haunted hotel in the nation is the goldfield. The goldfield hotel is one of the biggest buildings in goldfield and considering its age, in great shape compared to a lot others.
The goldfield hotel was built in 1907 by the hayes monette syndicate and designed by prominent reno architects holesworth and curtis, the goldfield hotel was the most prominent building built in goldfield, it operated through the 1940s. The historic town of goldfield, the esmeralda county seat, is filled with the history of its old mining days. Goldfield nevada the goldfield historical society the goldfield hotel. Route 95 goldfield was a boomtown in the first decade of the 20th century due to the discovery of gold between. I recently enjoyed some time at the nevada historical society in reno where i found copies of articles written by my aunt roberta childers for the nevada magazine about early days in goldfield. Goldfield hotel all you need to know before you go. The hotel is abandoned but represents the history and feel of this ghost town.
Everybody loves a good ghost story and here in nevada we have plenty of them. Hotels near international car forest of the last church. I tried to do a voice like they do on unsolved mysteries when theyre trying to. Gem of the desert by patty cafferata 2004, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. The goldfield hotel is open for daytime tours and night. The goldfield hotel, completed in 1908, was the final jewel that exemplified the towns exalted status. This once bustling boomtown hotel is now the hottest spot in nevada for ghost hunters. Within a short time goldfield was the largest city in nevada. Manuscripts by collection name university of nevada, las vegas.
Distinguished mining historian sally zanjani has a personal connection. See more ideas about nevada, tonopah nevada and ghost towns. See more ideas about nevada, tonopah nevada and old west saloon. This nevada hotel is among the most haunted places in the nation.
Goldfield was started in 1906 by george wingfield as the combination of six of the richest goldmines in nevada. The paiute, shoshone, quoeech, washoe, and walapai tribes had inhabited nevada for millennia before euroamericans arrived in the. Goldfield became nevada s largest city with over 20,000 people. Ghosts of goldfield and tonopah haunted america janice oberding on.
Box 457010 las vegas, nevada 891547010 special collections library site 702 8952234. We met up with the wonderful haunted nevada author, janice. Goldfield history goldfield was the site of a rare post 1900 major gold discovery in nevada. In 1907, shortly after the town of tonopah was founded, the mizpah hotel was built. Goldfield hotel 2020 all you need to know before you go with. Holesworth of the firm of curtis and morrill, it was built between 1907 and 1908 on the site of two earlier hotels of the same name which had burnt down. Goldfield, nevada was born in a hurry due to the discovery of gold in 1902, and grew from 2 miners to over 20,000 people in just 6 years. Apr 28, 2008 me telling a true ghost story about the goldfield hotel. By 1907, goldfield was the largest city in nevada, with four schools, many four and fivestory buildings, and two exchanges where mining stocks were madly bought and sold with every new rumor. Living in nevada, it is exciting to read the history of places ive visited, and, as this book was written, to read first hand accounts of those who lived in particular historical momuments as it were. On a lonely stretch of route 95, cast haphazardly against the sagebrush of central nevada, is the tiny ghost town of goldfield. Goldfield hotel luxury in the nevada desert page 2. Both the earlier hotels burned down in major fires in 1905 and 1906. Nevadas goldfield hotel today goldfield is a small former mining town between las vegas and reno that has a population of 500.
Ok, this is my attempt at narrating a real ghost story. The author of numerous books on nevada s history, true crime, unusual occurrences and hauntings, she speaks on these subjects throughout the state. May 16, 2018 this nevada hotel is among the most haunted places in the nation. The goldfield hotel was built in the boomtown of goldfield, nevada. The author of numerous books on nevadas history, true crime, unusual occurrences and hauntings, she speaks on these subjects throughout the state. The goldfield hotel is the symbol of this ephemeral boom town. They are still renovating the hotel, which has been going on and off for decades. Zillow has 7 homes for sale in goldfield nv matching. The author of numerous books on nevadas history, true crime, unusual occurrences and hauntings. The goldfield historical society is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the history and heritage of. Reputedly known as being one of the 10 scariest places on earth.
Living in nevada, it is exciting to read the history of. Front of the goldfield hotel in goldfield, nevada by kathy weiseralexander. The ore initially was very rich, spurring rapid growth of the town from 1904 to 1908. The book gives you the freedom to believe or not believe in the paranormal. Goldfield its history and hauntings, a history of goldfield, the legends and the ghosts who supposedly haunted the goldfield hotel. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. I remember visiting my grandmother in goldfield during vacation days. Located approximately 26 miles south of tonopah on us highway 95, goldfield has the grand old buildings of yesteryear. In the almost ghost town of goldfield, nevada is the historic and reportedly very. The ghost town, which was founded in 1802, these days holds a population of around 250 people. In the almost ghost town of goldfield, nevada is the historic and reportedly very haunted goldfield hotel. Mar 15, 2016 in 1907, shortly after the town of tonopah was founded, the mizpah hotel was built. Goldfield historical society goldfield nevada the history.
If youre the type of person that thrives off of exploring nevadas haunted destinations, then youll definitely want to read up on what is considered the most haunted hotel in the nation. Make an appointment for a historical, or paranormal tour of this storied nevada property. Home to only 268 people, its main industries are tourism and gold. The old hotel has been featured on a number of paranormal investigation television shows. At the opening of the hotel, champagne flowed down the front steps in the opening ceremony. Built concurrently with the mizpah hotel in tonopah, the goldfield hotel outdid its counterpart in size and luxuriousness when it opened. Hers, however, is not the ordinary history of a boom mining camp. Back in the day, this hotel was considered one of the grandest buildings in the silver state. Cash register of the goldfield hotel, goldfield, nevada. Having been boarded up and closed off to the public for decades, the historic goldfield hotel has recently reopened its doors for historic property tours. Goldfield hotel 2020 all you need to know before you go.
Goldfield lost a significant portion of its population by 1910, not because the gold was gone, but because the cost of mining was to great. Me telling a true ghost story about the goldfield hotel. A brief history of tp, from silk road hygiene to pandemic. The goldfield hotel is back open for tours and paranormal investigations.
A place worth to explore if you love nostalgia wit. The goldfield hotel is an historic fourstory building located at the southeast corner of crook avenue and columbia avenue in goldfield, esmeralda county, nevada. Ghosts of goldfield and tonopah, nevada by janice oberding. If you want to know more about the hotel s history, check out janice oberdings book ghosts of goldfield and tonopah. Goldfield historical society worlds greatest gold camp. As legend goes, this historic hotel is haunted by a few prostitutes from its earlier days. From the mahogany panelled lobby, with its black leather buttoned couches wrapped around iron pillars, to its state of the art elevator running 300 feet per minute, the goldfield was the height of opulence. Goldfield was a boomtown in the first decade of the 20th. It is a censusdesignated place, with a resident population of 268 at the 2010 census, down from 440 in 2000. The goldfield hotel is open for daytime tours and nighttime. Designed in the classical revival style of architecture by reno architects morrill j. Geologic events formed the states basin and range topography, the nevada basin physiographic region, and the central nevada desert e. Goldfield hotel luxury in the nevada desert legends of.