| Open range, endless vistas, sagebrush-carpeted | | | | Seventy eight miles west of Ely is Eureka, one of |
| valleys, and picturesque mining towns, few places | | | | the best preserved 19th century mining towns in |
| capture the Nevada experience as well as the | | | | Nevada. Founded in 1864, Eureka boasts many of |
| Pony Express Territory. The territory spans the | | | | its original buildings, a number of which have been |
| center of Nevada, straddling US Highway 50. Its | | | | carefully restored. The most impressive is the |
| name reflects the fact that US Highway 50 | | | | Eureka Courthouse, which opened in 1880. Across |
| parallels the historic Pony Express route, which | | | | the street is the Eureka Opera House, built in |
| stretched from St Joseph, Missouri, to | | | | 1880, which has been renovated into a modern |
| Sacramento, California, in the early 1860s. | | | | convention facility and performing arts center. |
| It's a region with one foot firmly planted in the | | | | The well-preserved Eureka Sentinel Museum |
| 19th century and the other in the 21st century. | | | | offers displays about local history and features |
| Only a handful of small towns are strung along the | | | | much of the press equipment used to produce |
| highway, which was designated by Life Magazine | | | | the town's newspaper, which was published |
| as "The Loneliest Road in America". And perhaps | | | | between 1870 and 1960. |
| it is. Motorists who get pangs of loneliness when | | | | Next come Austin, once one of Nevada's most |
| they're not surrounded by buildings and traffic | | | | successful mining camps. Silver was discovered |
| may feel isolated. But the rest will find tranquility in | | | | here in 1862 and within a few years, Austin was |
| the splendid solitude. | | | | the second largest community in the state. Of |
| Pony Express Territory is a land of untrammeled | | | | special note are the town's three historic churches: |
| natural wonders and charming mining towns that | | | | St Augustine's Catholic Church, erected in 1866; |
| still look much as they did more than a century | | | | the Methodist Church, also built in 1866; and St |
| ago. Traveling east to west, your first stop on US | | | | George's Episcopal Church, constructed in 1878. |
| Highway 50 should be at Great Basin National | | | | Austin and the surrounding Toiyabe, Toquima and |
| Park, home of ancient bristlecone pines. These | | | | Hot Creek mountain ranges are popular places for |
| gnarled giants, whom only grow at elevations of | | | | mountain bikers seeking bright blue skies, rugged |
| more than 10.000 feet, can live to be 4.000 years | | | | landscape and lack of crowds. |
| old. The park also has hiking trails that lead to | | | | Between Austin and Fallon, Sand Mountain is a |
| alpine lakes and majestic mountain tops, including | | | | unique two mile long, 600 feet high sand dune |
| 13.063 foot Wheeler Peak, the second highest | | | | that appeals to sand buggy enthusiasts, dirt bikers |
| point in Nevada. | | | | and sand skiers. The Sand Mountain Pony Express |
| Lehman Caves, accessed through the park's | | | | Station found south of the dune, is one of the |
| visitor center, offers fantastic displays of | | | | best preserved examples of the type of crude |
| stalactites and stalagmites developed over | | | | rock enclosures used by the Pony Express riders. |
| hundreds of years. The small town of Baker, | | | | West on US Highway 50 is the Grimes Point |
| located five miles east of the park, offers | | | | Archaeological Site. Interpretive signs guide visitors |
| restaurants, a motel and a gas station. | | | | along a trail lined with petro-glyphs, the rock |
| About an hour northwest of the park is Ely, a | | | | drawings made by native people who lived in the |
| former copper mining town that serves as a | | | | area between 5.000 BC and 1.500 AD. |
| great base for trips to the regions many | | | | Twelve miles west is Fallon, known for |
| recreation areas and historic sites. The town has | | | | cantaloupes and fighter planes. Fallon's |
| ample restaurants, hotels and RV spaces, and | | | | award-winning Hearts O'Gold cantaloupes are one |
| murals that bring the town's history to life. | | | | of the top products of this rich farmland. It is also |
| The Nevada Northern Railway Museum in Ely | | | | the headquarters of the US Navy's "Top Gun" |
| incorporates the rail yards, shops and rolling stock | | | | flight school. Fighter planes are frequently seen |
| of the Nevada Northern Railway, a short-line that | | | | practicing maneuvers in the skies above the |
| operated from 1906 to the early 1980s. | | | | community. While in Fallon, visitors also can enjoy |
| The renovated East Ely train depot houses a | | | | the Churchill County Museum, containing exhibits |
| small museum and gift shop. But the highlight of | | | | describing regional Native Americans, the Emigrant |
| the stop is a ride on "The Ghost Train of Old Ely". | | | | Trail, and turn-of-the-century rural life. There's |
| During selected weekends and times, train | | | | great fishing and camping at Lahontan Reservoir, |
| excursions are offered with the railroad's historic | | | | just 17 miles west of Fallon. Campers also are |
| Number 40, a 1910 Baldwin steam locomotive, or | | | | welcome at nearby Fort Churchill, a 1860s Army |
| its sister engine, Number 93, a 1909 American | | | | post that has been maintained in a state of |
| Consolidated steam engine. Train enthusiasts can | | | | arrested decay. Both areas are state parks. |
| even become engineers and actually drive either a | | | | The nearby Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge is an |
| steam or diesel locomotive on a 14 mile trip up | | | | important habitat for a variety of waterfowl |
| into a narrow mountain canyon. | | | | including pelicans, swans, ibises and ducks. |