Schellbourne

Schellbourne, in the foothills of the Schell Creek Range, was a Shoshone village site long before Captain James Simpson passed through in 1859 while looking for a short route across the Great Basin. That same year an overland stage and mail station was built there, and in 1860 the Pony Express Company used the same facilities. When the telegraph arrived in 1863, it followed the same route. During the rush to the Virginia City mines in 1859 and 1860, the army sent troops there to protect the personnel of that western pilgrimage. Silver ore was discovered in the mountains immediately east of Schellbourne in the early 1870's, and in 1871 it became part of the Aurum Mining District. An active mining camp developed with a population of over 500 persons, but by 1885 the ore had been mostly depleted and the camp abandoned. The district and adjacent valley were then acquired by "Uncle Billy" Burke as a ranch, and since that time Schellbourne has served as headquarters for various ranches.

McGill, Nevada · United States