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Ophir Mill and Town Site
Location:
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Old U.S. Highway 395
Washoe Valley, Nevada
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Dedicated:
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1961
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Marker Significance:
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On
October 31, 1961, Nevada Sagebrush Chapter presented and dedicated a
marker at the site of Ophir in observance of the centennial of the
founding of Ophir. Then Governor Grant Sawyer gave the dedicatory
address at the 1961 marker dedication. See photo below.
In 1859, the discovery of
silver in the Comstock Lode of Virginia City brought thousands of
miners, loggers, and traders to the Washoe Valley. The town of Ophir
was situated on the pine clad banks of Washoe Lake at the base of the
Sierra Nevadas.
In 1861 the Ophir Mining
Company erected a mill for the reduction of ore from the famed Comstock
Ophir mine. The Ophir Mill was built on Washoe Lake's west shore and
was reached by an elevated causeway across what was then Washoe Marsh.
In
1872, the Virginia and Truckee Railroad began service through Washoe
Valley, connecting Reno to Carson City. By the late 1870's the mining
boom was over and the towns around Washoe Lake were all but abandoned.
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Directions:
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The
marker is located on Old U.S. Highway 395 in Washoe Valley. From Reno,
go south on U.S. 395. After you pass through Pleasant Valley, take a
right (turn west) on Old Highway 395 at the north end of Washoe Valley.
You will pass Davis Creek County Park (a Washoe County park) and road
signs for Davis Creek Circle and Old Mill Place. The Ophir Mill marker
is on the east (left) side of the road at a paved pull out on a boulder
between highway mile markers NV 429 WA 7 and NV 429 WA 6. If you reach
Bower’s Mansion (at NV 429 WA 5) or Maranatha Road you have gone too far
south. The DAR marker is in front of a large mound of stones and a
large solitary pine tree and is very visible from the road. As you
approach the marker from either side, there are State of Nevada
Historical Marker signs.
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Map:
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Click here for a map
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