.gif)
Berlin Historic District (Berlin, Nevada)
Encyclopedia
The Berlin Historic District encompasses the ghost town
of Berlin, Nevada
. The town was established in 1897 as part of the Union Mining District following the opening of the Berlin Mine the previous year. The town never prospered to the same extent as other boom towns like Tonopah
and Goldfield
, and declined following the Panic of 1907
. The town was largely abandoned by 1911. The site was acquired by the state of Nevada as part of Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park in 1970.
The town is on the western side of the Shoshone Range
on the edge of Toiyabe National Forest at an elevation of about 6676 ft (2,034.8 m) above sea level
. At elevations above the townsite the forest becomes more dense and provided a source of building materials for the town. The town is arranged in a U shape, opening to the east. At its peak, the town had about 75 buildings and 300 residents. Berlin was a company town
, operated by the Nevada Company and was maintained until its acquisition by the state in 1970. This accounts for the town's excellent state of preservation.
The town of Union, a mile to the east, functioned as a suburb to Berlin. The Berlin Mine had three miles of tunnels, but produced less than $1 million worth of gold
and silver
during its lifetime. The Diana mine connects to the Berlin Mine at the fourth level and is preserved as a mining museum. Tours of the Diana Mine were halted in 2007 until a safety review could be completed.
The preserved buildings in Berlin include the mine supervisor's house, now the park office, the assay office and a machine shop. The 30-stamp mill, one of the best of its type in the state, has been stabilized.
The town was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1971.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
of Berlin, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. The town was established in 1897 as part of the Union Mining District following the opening of the Berlin Mine the previous year. The town never prospered to the same extent as other boom towns like Tonopah
Tonopah, Nevada
Tonopah is a census-designated place located in and the county seat of Nye County, Nevada. It is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 6 and 95 approximately mid-way between Las Vegas and Reno....
and Goldfield
Goldfield, Nevada
Goldfield is an unincorporated community and the county seat of Esmeralda County, Nevada, United States, with a resident population of 440 at the 2000 census. It is located about southeast of Carson City, along U.S...
, and declined following the Panic of 1907
Panic of 1907
The Panic of 1907, also known as the 1907 Bankers' Panic, was a financial crisis that occurred in the United States when the New York Stock Exchange fell almost 50% from its peak the previous year. Panic occurred, as this was during a time of economic recession, and there were numerous runs on...
. The town was largely abandoned by 1911. The site was acquired by the state of Nevada as part of Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park in 1970.
The town is on the western side of the Shoshone Range
Shoshone Range
in Nye County.The Shoshone Range is a mountain range in Lander County, Nevada.The Humboldt River and valley are on the northern perimeter of the range....
on the edge of Toiyabe National Forest at an elevation of about 6676 ft (2,034.8 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. At elevations above the townsite the forest becomes more dense and provided a source of building materials for the town. The town is arranged in a U shape, opening to the east. At its peak, the town had about 75 buildings and 300 residents. Berlin was a company town
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
, operated by the Nevada Company and was maintained until its acquisition by the state in 1970. This accounts for the town's excellent state of preservation.
The town of Union, a mile to the east, functioned as a suburb to Berlin. The Berlin Mine had three miles of tunnels, but produced less than $1 million worth of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
during its lifetime. The Diana mine connects to the Berlin Mine at the fourth level and is preserved as a mining museum. Tours of the Diana Mine were halted in 2007 until a safety review could be completed.
The preserved buildings in Berlin include the mine supervisor's house, now the park office, the assay office and a machine shop. The 30-stamp mill, one of the best of its type in the state, has been stabilized.
The town was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1971.