Eureka Opera House

Constructed by Richard Ryland, Joseph Winzell, and M.D. Foley from October through December 1880 on the foundation of the Odd Fellows Hall, which had been destroyed earlier that year in a disastrous fire, the Eureka Opera House was built as a thoroughly fire-proof structure with two-foot-thick masonry walls, a brick and iron front, and a slate roof. Its official grand opening came in January 1881 with the drama "Forget Me Not." For many decades it stood at the center of activity in Eureka, hosting plays, masquerade balls, dances, operas, concerts, and other social events. Silent movies were first shown there in 1915, and by the 1940s its name had changed to the Eureka Theater. Movies continued until the theater closed in 1943. After standing idle, the building was purchased and restored by Eureka County in 1993, when its original name was restored. Ads for local merchants painted in 1921 by the Twin City Scenic Company can still be seen on the stage Olio Curtain.

Eureka, Nevada · United States