Places to visit in Tonopah, NV.
The difference between Tonopah of today and its heyday is stark. There are very few residents in this town now, but if you want to see what the boomtown was like in its heyday, stopping by Tonopah is the best way to do so. While most of the mines are closed, and there is not much economic activity in town, it’s still worth stopping to see this fascinating outpost in Nevada history.
Tonopah Historic Mining Park
The Tonopah Historic Mining Park is a historic mining area in Tonopah, Nevada. It features landmark mine buildings and equipment. In addition, the park has an ATV tour and a visitor’s center. There are also mineral displays.
During the early 1900s, the town of Tonopah, Nevada, was a famous mining destination. As a result, the city dubbed itself the “Queen of the Silver Camps.” By 1907, the population had risen to nearly 3,000.
The Tonopah Historic Mining Park was established in 1992. The park is comprised of 113 acres. Located behind the Mizpah Hotel, the park offers visitors a view of mining history.
The park’s major sites are restored mine buildings, headframes, and equipment. Visitors can also walk through an underground tunnel. These structures were built more than a hundred years ago. Today, they are preserved for future generations to learn about mining in the West.
Mizpah Hotel Tonopah Nevada
The Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah, Nevada, is a historic building with a rich history. This hotel was built in the early 1900s and was the first luxury hotel in Nevada. It was also a hot spot for celebrities during the silver boom.
The Mizpah Hotel is a member of Historic Hotels of America. They provide a variety of amenities, including a bar and a gift shop. In addition, there is a fitness center, free wifi, and a 24-hour front desk.
Some people who stayed at the Mizpah Hotel during the silver boom included celebrities like Howard Hughes and Jean Peters. The hotel also hosted Wyatt Earp. However, the hotel is most famous for the “Lady in Red” story.
Central Nevada Museum
The Central Nevada Museum is a non-profit museum located in Tonopah, Nevada. It features displays relating to the town’s history and surrounding area and a research library.
Among the museum’s many features is a replica of an old Western town, complete with a saloon and other historical buildings. Aside from the indoor displays, the outdoor collection includes a train and mining equipment.
The Central Nevada Historical Society founded this museum in 1981 with the help of a Fleischmann Foundation grant. Other notable features include a railroad yard and a blacksmith shop.
The museum also has a research library featuring an extensive collection of books, pictures, and other artifacts. These items are all free to view.
Another noteworthy feature of the museum is its outdoor collection, filled with an impressive array of mining equipment, such as a miner’s cabin, ore cars, and a railyard.
The International Car Forest
The International Car Forest is a strange artificial monument in the Nevada desert. It is an extensive collection of vertically assembled cars, buses, vans, and delivery trucks. Some of the vehicles have been painted in unique and abstract designs.
The car forest was built by a pair of Nevada artists. The Car Forest is located on private property. However, the car park is free to visit. Visitors can sign a visitor’s log at the entrance.
The Goldfield car art installation is one of the largest outdoor car displays in the country. Chad Sorg and Mark Rippie collaborated on the project. They installed forty vehicles in a half-mile desert.
Even though two individuals created the car exhibit, the artwork is commissioned by artists from all over. This includes a plethora of graffiti.
Old Tonopah Cemetery
The Old Tonopah Cemetery is located in Tonopah, Nevada, and is a cemetery believed to be haunted. Many interesting people have been buried here. Some notable names include Big Bill Murphy, Nye County Sheriff Thomas Logan, and more.
The cemetery has a walking tour that you can take. You can get a map at the town office or hotels. On this tour, you will learn about the different gravesites and the people buried there.
The first person buried in the cemetery was John Randel Weeks. Other famous names include Tonopah’s renowned woman, The Lady in Red.
Many paranormal research teams have visited the cemetery and found evidence of ghosts. There are also some strange lights and noises.
Top Things to Do in Tonopah, Nevada
Places to visit in Tonopah, NV:
- Tonopah Historic Mining Park
- Mizpah Hotel Tonopah Nevada
- Central Nevada Museum
- The International Car Forest
- Old Tonopah Cemetery
