Eureka Nevada !

Lead/silver ore was first discovered here in September of 1864 by a group of prospectors from Austin, Nevada. But, because of the complexity of the ore, processing methods would not be perfected until the end of the decade. The town site in Horse Thief Canyon was surveyed in 1869. The first name given to the site was " Napias" on January 13, 1870. But on January 27th when the Post Office was established, the name was changed to Eureka.

From 1869 to 1879 Eureka was a major producer of domestic pig-lead. Since World War II, Eureka has been maintained largely by its status as the county seat and its location on Highway 50. In the early 1990's Eureka began to preserve it's history with the restoration of the Eureka Opera House and then later the Eureka County Courthouse. These two projects and the expansion of the Eureka Sentinel Museum have helped to make what it is today.

The destructive fires in April 1879 and August 1880 destroyed most of the structures in the northeastern portion of town.Thus many of the buildings you see today were erected around 1880 - 1881. In contrast. little construction occurred after 1886 during the declining years when the mines and smelters ceased operations.

Built from October through December 1880, this structure sits on the ashes of the old Odd Fellows Hall. An early account of the new facility stated that, "The new opera house is thoroughly fire-proof, with two foot thick masonry walls, a brick and iron front, and a slate roof." The grand hall floor was built to be shock absorbing so that you could dance all night. The building was the center for all activities in Eureka for many decades. It became a movie theater in the 1940's with the last film being shown in 1958. The building stood idle until Eureka County purchased and restored it to its current splendor in 1993. The county was given a National Trust for Historic Preservation Honor Award in 1994 for the preservation of this landmark. The original oleo curtain from 1924 still graces the stage.

Here is Tannehill Log Cabin, it is believed to be the first home built in Eureka around 1865. It later served as Eureka's first store. It was built out of the massive pinion pine logs that grew near Eureka before the trees were all cut down to make charcoal.
	The cabin as been modified through out the years.
Built from locally fired brick and stone from the Chandler's quarry in 1879 this building housed the Eureka Sentinel newspaper until 1960. The construction costs were $10,000. The Eureka Sentinel Museum opened here in June 1982. The Museum includes the original press room from the newspaper.
	Built in 1880 this building became the Colonnade Hotel in 1886. Then the building was used for the meeting place of the Italian Benevolent Society until 1890. Vacant for almost 4 decades the Colonnade reopened around 1940 and remained open until 1999. It is now being renovated to include guest rooms, a coffee parlor, and antique store.
Construction of this two story brick structure began in 1879 and was finished in 1880 at a cost of $55,000 for the building and $15,000 for the jail, vault and fixtures. The iron shutters on the doors and windows of this and other buildings throughout town were to keep fire from the interior of the building. Eureka County totally restored the building in 1996 / 1998.
	The Jackson House was built in 1877, then gutted by fire in 1880 and then restored. In 1907 it became the Brown Hotel and operated as such till 1940's. Again in 1981 it was restored and called the Jackson House. It was last remodeled in 1998 and still open as a hotel. Now you have to go to the north end of town at the Best Western to rent rooms there.
My favorite place is the Owl Club Cafe. Made from four building, the cafe is an 1880 building that was a saloon. It became the Owl Club in 1939 and in 1957 the building attach to it became a bar. We eat there when ever we are in Eureka.
	J & S Saloon This was built prior to 1873 by Solomon Ashim, this locally quarried volcanic tuff building served as a general store until the early 1900's when it was a dry goods store run by Flora Morris and her son David. By the 1930's the building became a restaurant and served as a restaurant and bar since.
Right at the north end of town, or outside of town, is the Eureka Station. I believe it was for the Overland stage line. Also in one of Eureka's five cemeteries is the graves of the charcoal burners killed by the hands of a posse, Grave site!