many ‘ghost towns’ in Nevada from the mining and pioneer times don’t even exist today except on old maps and in old books with photographs taken before they completely disappeared back into the earth. most debris has been carted away to someone’s bookshelf but one can find bits of old glass and pottery, iron implement pieces, and remains of a sturdy fireplace or other heavy, bulky solid still extant. you have to either know where to look from talking to old-timers or from a book.

the thing you find is not the physical remains of the community so much as the spirit of the past, the history, the locale where so much struggle and suffering, joy and celebration were lived out to get us to today. for me, there is a strong presence of life passing but present.

Lahontan City was once a thriving town, complete with everything needed for the thousands of workers who came to build the Lahontan Dam, part of the historic Newlands Water Project, in 1911. in 1916, the irrigation water began flowing, there was no more livelihood for the workers, and the population quickly exited the town. there’s little trace of it today and nothing to point to it. I was fortunate to have a guide in desertshaman who knew where to turn off the highway on the merest of dirt paths. it can be seen from the highway, but I don’t think I’d notice it if I were driving by, even having been there. all that’s left are a couple of fireplace remains and some vague leftovers from foundations and underground cellars and such. the railroad still runs adjacent to it, more important in the day of Lahontan City than today.

such places sometimes make dismal photos . . .



next I hope to backtrack to Grimes Point Aarchaeological Area - better photos!