books - Desert Magazine of the Southwest

self. In 1913 a flood ravaged the
community, and in 1923 some 53
square blocks of the city were
consumed by fire—never to be
rebuilt. Yet, the quiet streets of
Goldfield display much to remind
the visitor that this is one
of the spots where the history of
the West was made.
Goldfield is located 26 miles
south of Tonopah, Nevada on
U.S. Highway95. •
Above: In Goldfield, a number of large buildings are still standing but no longer in use. Goldfield
High School is one of these structures. Many stone and brick buildings, some as tall as five stories,
were built during the years that Goldfield had a population of more than 20,000 and was the largest
city in Nevada. Far left: A giant headframe towers over a quiet Goldfield mine. Mine structures seem
to cover the desert between Goldfield and Columbia Mountain. It is estimated that more than $100
million was taken from the mining district. The peak production year was 1910, when nearly $11
million in gold was mined. Left: A lonely arch, guarding a vacant lot in downtown Goldfield, is a reminder
that the town was once a thriving business center. Early in this century Goldfield had five
banks, two daily newspapers and two stock exchanges. Many business buildings were destroyed in a
fire that consumed 53 square blocks of the city in 1923.
Desert/May 1977 35