"You don't have to concentrate very hard to feel ... even hear ... and ultimately live "The Rush to Reese." *sigh* There is never enough room on an historic marker." -- June 2009

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Along US 50, 1 mile W of Austin Lander   39.498173, -117.079300

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Original Date Visited: 6/20/09
Signed: Both lanes of US 50

Notes: In recent years, NDOT installed a jersey barrier alongside this section of US 50 to prevent rollovers. Unfortunately, this is also very awkward for the marker. The images you see were taken upon my initial conquering in 2009 before the installation of this barrier and hence, much easier marker viewing. Today, you'll need to squeeze over the barrier to fully photograph the marker.

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Here's what you'll see!

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    Austin's peak, circa 1868  

Exact Description:
Austin, mother town of mining camps, sprang into being after William Talcott discovered silver at this spot on May 2, 1862. Talcott came from Jacobsville, a stage stop six miles to the west on the Reese River, the first Lander County seat. He was hauling wood out of Pony Canyon directly below, when he made the strike that set off the famous "Rush to Reese."

A town called Clifton flourished briefly in Pony Canyon but fast growing Austin soon took over and became the county seat in 1863. Before the mines began to fail in the 1880's, Austin was a substantial city of 10,000 people. From Austin, prospectors fanned out to open many other important mining camps.

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