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.

Pittsburgh (Pittsburg)

DIRECTIONS: From Lander, continue west for 11 miles to Pittsburgh.

"Initial discoveries were made in Crum and Maysville canyons in 1878. The Morning Star Mine was located on May 12 by Thomas Morgan, who had been living in Lewis since 1875. Morgan organized the Morning Star Gold Mining Company with partners John Cardwell and a Dr. Bean. In 1880, Morgan located two additional mines: Lady Carrie (named after his wife) and the Pittsburgh (soon to become the best producer of the district). In 1884 Morgan built a 20-ton, 10-stamp mill. On May 15, 1885, he gained complete control of Morning Star Gold Mining. In January 1886, Morgan sold all of the company's holdings to an English company, Thurber, Gates, and Mooring, for $400,000. The company was reorganized and Pittsburgh Consolidated Gold Mines, Limited, was born. Besides the Pittsburgh, Morning Star, and Lady Carrie mines, the company also owned the Cumberland, Evening Star, and Ida Herrietta mines. In 1887 the company built a $60,000, 100-ton, 20-stamp mill, which replaced Morgan's old mill. The company printed 80,000 one-pound shares to help raise money for the mill's construction.

The camp of Pittsburgh began to grow during the mid-1880s, and a townsite was laid out in Crum Canyon (next to the mill), at the mouth of Hilltop Canyon. The mines were located about a quarter mile up Hilltop Canyon, and a tramway to the mill was constructed. Between 1886 and 1887, $126,000 in gold was produced, and Pittsburgh soon had a population of 100. Around thirty buildings were crowded into Crum Canyon. A couple of stores and saloons opened their doors. A post office opened on October 11, 1888, with William J. Black as postmaster, and operated until August 15, 1893. It is interesting to note that on March 5, 1892, the post office changed its name from Pittsburgh to Pittsburg. Pittsburgh Consolidated Gold Mines folded in 1891, but the property was immediately purchased by W. E. Dean. He built a 10-stamp mill near the camp of Dean, located in upper Lewis Canyon. The mill started production in December 1892, employing 30 men. However, production dropped dramatically and Pittsburg's population soon fell to about 20, all miners. All the businesses left, and the miners had to trek up to Dean for supplies and a drink. Enough people still called Pittsburg home to have the post office reopened on December 6, 1897, and it operated until May 15, 1900. The mines and mill were finally abandoned in 1906 after a few years of progressively poorer production. At the time of abandonment, the Morning Star had two miles of workings, while the Pittsburg had 4,500 feet. Pittsburg was totally empty by 1908, and no revivals ever took place. Today only one old shack still stands. The only other ruins are the large foundations of the 20-stamp mill. Mine ruins are located a quarter mile farther into Hilltop Canyon."

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