Contact NV

Contact, NV

Contact is a small community in northeastern Nevada. Gold and silver ore was first discovered here in the 1870s, but mining didn't really take off until the 1890s. By 1915 the town had a 35-room hotel, a barbershop, a post office, schools, restaurants, several saloons, and a general store. In 1925 the newly-built Oregon Short Line railroad reached the town and a depot was constructed.

The town went through several boom and bust cycles. It's most profitable years were during the first and second World Wars. This was due to the fact that, in addition to gold and silver, the mines mostly produced copper and zinc.

During Prohibition the town was also home to a booming moonshine industry.

In 1942 a fire destroyed most of the town's buildings as well as any headframes or other mining structures that were still in existence at the time. In 1958 mining ended for good. These days only a handful of people still live in Contact, mostly employed by the Nevada Department of Transportation which has a maintenance station there. Contact still has a few interesting old buildings and ruins.

I visited Contact, NV in Sept 2024.

This concrete building is the former Community Social Hall in Contact, NV.

This concrete building is the former Community Social Hall in Contact, NV.

This concrete building is the former Community Social Hall in Contact, NV.

This concrete building is the former Community Social Hall in Contact, NV.

Entering the ruins of the Social Hall in Contact, NV.

Interior of the former Social Hall.

The Social Hall had a ceiling of stamped metal.

The Social Hall had a ceiling of stamped metal.

A closer look at the stamped metal trim.

I can't tell if this section of stamped metal was painted brown, or is just completely rusted. Looks more like paint to me.

One stone wall is all that's left of this building.

One stone wall is all that's left of this building.

One stone wall is all that's left of this building.

One stone wall is all that's left of this building.

Closeup of the stone wall.

Closeup of the stone wall.

Here's a small, decrepit brick building.

Here's a small, decrepit brick building.

This appears to be two cabins that were connected together, and then additional rooms were added.

This appears to be two cabins that were connected together, and then additional rooms were added.

This appears to be two cabins that were connected together, and then additional rooms were added.

This appears to be two cabins that were connected together, and then additional rooms were added.

Wide strips of old, stamped metal were used to cover gaps in the wooden wall.

The center cabin has an unusual entrance that extends out. Possibly a mud room?

The center cabin has an unusual entrance that extends out. Possibly a mud room?

The center cabin has an unusual entrance that extends out. Possibly a mud room?

An outhouse at Contact, NV.

An outhouse.

An old car body.

Here are the ruins of a stone store.

Here are the ruins of a stone store.

A cabin and dugout at Contact, NV.

Ghost Towns, Mines, and More!

#ghosttowns, #mines, #Nevada, #exploring, #adventure, #abandoned, #ruins