Aurora, Nevada

 NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, ghost town, historic landmark, historic ruins

Aurora, first named Esmeralda because it was founded on Esmeralda flats, was a gold and silver mining town. Quartz ledges were first found by prospectors heading for Mona Lake in California in August, 1860.

The town was renamed Aurora for the goddess of dawn. It was laid out in proper grid fashion and many of the buildings were built with brick. The town quickly grew into a city and both California and Nevada claimed it as a county seat. It was the county seat for Mono county, CA and the county seat for Esmeralda, NV until a subsequent survey showed that Aurora was indeed located 4 miles inside of the Nevada state line.

The Mono county government with records in hand, moved to Bodie before it eventually settled in Big Meadows (now known as Bridgeport). Some 2000 people had made Aurora their home by this time. Sam Clemens even tried his hand at mining near Aurora and spent some time working at a local stamp mill for $10 per week plus room and board. While Sam was in Aurora he sent some sketches of the local mining community to the editor of the Territorial Enterprise in Virginia City using the pseudonym "Josh". A few weeks later, Sam Clemens was hired by the Enterprise as a reporter. It was as a reporter for the Enterprise that he took the name that he is famous for, Mark Twain.

By 1863, Aurora could claim 20 stores, 12 hotels, 21 saloons, and 2 newspapers. The original 8 stamps of the small milling operation had grown to some 200 stamps in 16 different mills pounding day and night. The largest mill was located on Bodie Creek and was named the Real Del Monte.

As has happened in many mining towns, extreme speculation in the mining stocks coupled with ore values that could not keep up caused the decline of the town beginning in 1864. By 1869 the high grade ores were worked out after having yielded some $29 million in gold. The post office finally closed in 1897.

The town was revived in the early 1900's and the post office reopened along with several other businesses. By 1918 the mining companies had been able to recover an additional $1.8 million dollars but the post office was closed again in 1919. Much of the town was torn down in 1946 by builders from Los Angeles, CA in order to reuse the brick. Today there is very little to show for all of the investment of time and money in the town. A few shells of buildings, a piece or two of stamp mills, and broken glass are all that remain of this once spectacular town.

Over the hill from the main town site is a modern mining operation still working the veins that lured the original miners to this mountain. Just off of the road leading down to the main town site, is the old cemetery. This cemetery includes graves for many prominent people involved with early Nevada history.

www.nevadatravel.net/travelgram/06-08.html
westernmininghistory.com/towns/nevada/aurora/
www.ghosttowns.com/states/nv/aurora.html
www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/htnf/learning/history-cultur...
noehill.com/nv_mineral/nat1974001147.asp

Residents of Aurora, Nevada 1861-1864:
www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3795420.p...