NEVADA GHOST TOWNS: BERLIN

Miners had been attempting to discover riches in Nye County’s Union Mining District for decades. Beginning in 1863, communities like Union, Grantsville, and Ione popped up, had brief success, only to eventually see the ore dry up or watch its workforce leave for opportunities elsewhere. Just as people had given up on the area, the town of Berlin was established and became the most successful mining town in the region.

Founded in 1897, Berlin was named after the mine the community was associated with, the Berlin Mine. By the turn of the century, the town had attracted a population estimated to be as high as 300. The mine was successful during its lifetime, producing $849,000 worth of gold ore in its 3 miles of underground tunnels. However, A 1907 worker strike all but shut down the mine. By 1914, all mining had stopped in the region.

Berlin received second life in 1928, the result of something else hidden underground. Scientists discovered the remains of several fossilized ichthyosaurs. The marine animal lived in the ocean water that covered Nevada some 225 million years ago. The discovery included an ichthyosaur that was over 50 feet in length, the largest discovery at the time. Nevada remains the only state in the country with a complete ichthyosaur skeleton.

In 1957, Nevada created the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park. Today, park visitors can see one of the most impressive fossil collections in the world and check out some of the original preserved mining buildings and facilities in Berlin.