Potosi - No. 115 - Mountain Springs, NV - Nevada Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

The desire of the Mormon settlements for economic self-sufficiency led to mining by missionaries for lead. In 1856 Nathaniel V. Jones was sent to recover ore from the "Mountain of Lead" 30 miles southwest of the mission at Las Vegas Springs. About 9,000 pounds were recovered before smelting difficulties forced the remote mine to be abandoned in 1857. Potosi became the first abandoned mine in Nevada.
In 1861 California mining interests reopened the mine, and a smelter and rock cabins of 100 busy miners made up the mining camp of Potosi. Even more extensive operations resulted after the transcontinental Salt Lake and San Pedro R.R. (now Union Pacific) was built through the county in 1905.
During World War I, Potosi was an important source of zinc.

Marker Title (required): Potosi Marker Number (If official State Marker from NV SHPO website above, otherwise leave blank): 115 Marker Text (required): The desire of the Mormon settlements for economic self-sufficiency led to mining by missionaries for lead. In 1856 Nathaniel V. Jones was sent to recover ore from the "Mountain of Lead" 30 miles southwest of the mission at Las Vegas Springs. About 9,000 pounds were recovered before smelting difficulties forced the remote mine to be abandoned in 1857. Potosi became the first abandoned mine in Nevada. In 1861 California mining interests reopened the mine, and a smelter and rock cabins of 100 busy miners made up the mining camp of Potosi. Even more extensive operations resulted after the transcontinental Salt Lake and San Pedro R.R. (now Union Pacific) was built through the county in 1905. During World War I, Potosi was an important source of zinc. Nevada Historical Marker 115 State Historic Preservation Office County (required): Clark (Las Vegas) Marker Type (required): Full Size (with blue painted mesh) Is Marker Damaged? (required): No Other Marker Type (optional): Not listed Other Damage Type (optional): Not listed URL - Website (optional): Not listed

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