When Goldfield was going strong, the streets indeed seemed paved with gold.

From its founding in 1902 until 1910, it was one of the most celebrated mining boomtowns in the country. With a population of about 20,000, it was the largest city in Nevada in 1907. Goldfield had all the amenities of a modern boomtown, modern office buildings, storefronts, saloons several banks, and newspapers as well as other services that rivaled any city in the west.

The Goldfield Hotel built in 1908 boasted the finest Hotel between Denver and San Francisco, with its plush and modern interior, fine restaurants and service. Goldfield today is in the Guinness Book of World Records as hosting the longest Prizefight known as the Gans-Nelson fight that went 42 rounds in 1906. The population declined to about 5,000 in 1910 and by 1919 the glory days were well over. Goldfield was devastated by a fire in 1923, destroying 52 blocks of buildings and homes.

Today the remnants of past glories are not so obvious but with some imagination you get a sense of what Goldfield used to be. A walk through town and a visit to the Esmeralda County Courthouse with displays of early century furnishings and memorabilia give visitors a sense of our historical past. Among the structures being restored are the Nixon -Wingfield building, Telegraph office, High School, Ish-Curtis building and historical homes. If you get thirsty you can always belly up to the bar at the Santa Fe Saloon, Nevada’s second oldest saloon in continuous use. History Booklets with a walking/driving tour and brochures can be obtained at the Goldfield Chamber of Commerce, and local businesses.