Eureka Nevada Walking Tour
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Description
This historic walking tour of Eureka is a work in progress.
1. Eureka Sentinel Museum
The Eureka Sentinel Museum is housed in the 1879 Eureka Sentinel Newspaper Building. This structure was used as the Newspaper Office and residence from 1879 until 1960. The ground floor of the building was made into a county historical museum in 1982. In June of 2000, the museum expanded to include both floors of the building. The Eureka Sentinel Museum interprets the history of Eureka. On the ground floor you will find a complete press room from the 1800s complete with posters that were printed by the Eureka Sentinel and then plastered on the press room walls. All of the press equipment is original. See how a newspaper was printed in the boom days of Eureka. In the mining history room, you will see tools from the early days of mining, as well as historic stock certificates, ledgers, and personal miners items. The Lead & Silver strikes in the 1860s were the beginning of Eureka. On the second floor, you will be treated to exhibits depicting school life in the early days of Eureka, parlor, and kitchen with many items that you will remember from grandma's house. There are items from the many fire companies, Fraternal organizations and military uniforms from the first and second world wars. As you walk down the upstairs hall, you will look through a window to see the late 1800s Eureka Barber Shop, complete with an oak barber chair. Don't miss the gift shop where you can purchase books about Eureka's history, soap and pottery made right here in Eureka, or get that special gift that says to your friends that you visited Eureka, Nevada.
2. Eureka County Courthouse
Constructed in 1880, the Eureka County Courthouse is perhaps the most important landmark in the city. It is an excellent example of the Italianate architectural style. The two-story building features a red-brick facade, a small balcony over the main entrance, and decorative brickwork. It remains the county courthouse today and is a contributing property of the Eureka Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
3. Bartine Outhouse & Eureka & Palisade Railroad Car
Located across the street from the Sentinel Museum, this outhouse and a railcar was once owned by the Eureka & Palisade Railroad. There are also a few pieces of mining equipment next to the car. The outhouse, which was built by local businessman Frederick Bartine, is unique in that it is the only "five-hole" outhouse in the state. It is unclear when the railcar was built, but presumably sometime in the last quarter of the 1800s.
4. Eureka Opera House
This historic theater was constructed in 1880, about a decade after the town of Eureka began to experience a population boom related to silver mining. At the time of its construction, the town of Eureka had a population of three thousand and many believed that it would become a regional center of commerce. The theater fell into disrepair and may have been demolished had it not been for local residents who worked with county officials to purchase the old building and get it placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. Over the next three years, residents worked with preservationists to completely restore the structure. The Opera House re-opened in 1993 and was part of a larger effort to preserve the town's unique history and promote both tourism. The historic theater also offers a place for cultural events, exhibits, conventions, and a venue for local events and performances.
