Please remember to exercise caution when exploring Nevada's Ghost Towns & Mining Camps. Open shafts, drifts going into mountainsides, and old buildings, are all DANGEROUS! Be aware of your surroundings, and let someone know where you are, especially if your plans change.

JARBIDGE

Location: From Charleston, continue north for 18 miles to Jarbidge.

Jarbidge was Nevada's last big boom town, but long before the white man made the canyon prosper, the area was rich in Shoshone legends. For the Shoshone, the canyon was the forbidden home of Tsau-hau-bitts, a man-eating giant that roamed the mountains snatching up helpless Shoshones and returning to the canyon to eat them.

While the discoveries that were to establish Jarbidge did not take place until after the turn of the century, many prospectors unsuccessfully explored the canyon prior to that time. The first group came through in the 1860s and spent a month gold panning the river but found nothing promising. In the 1881s another prospecting party gave rise to one of Jarbidge's most enduring legends- the legend of the lost sheepherder.

The first major discovery in Jarbidge was made on August 19, 1909. Within days 2 other major discoveries were made. Not only Elko papers, but many other exaggerated the early value of the mines. Needless to say, a rush to the area started. The Jarbidge Mining District was organized in October and at least fifty men lived in tents on the canyon floor. The approaching winter kept the cap on expansion until the spring of 1910. Harsh winters plagued Jarbidge throughout it's history, and the town was often completely isolated for weeks at a time. Until a road was built from Charleston, the only access to Jarbidge was from the north.

Jarbidge's history is a long and eventful one. The town of Jarbidge has survived and is now a popular hunting, fishing, and camping spot. The scenery in and around Jarbidge is a big draw. A gas station, The Trading Post General Store, the Red Dog Saloon, and many more, cater to the many tourists. The town host a number of popular annual events, including the Memorial Day Barbecue, the July Fourth Barbecue, the Labor Day Corn Feed, and the Halloween Pig Feed.

Many buildings and mine sites still stand today including the jail and the recently restored Jarbidge Commercial Club.

This is a must see town on your NevadAdventureS.

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