Goldfield - Nevada's Biggest City, Once

Stop on Area 51, a free self-guided tour.

Gold was discovered here in 1902, and by 1906 Goldfield held about 20,000 people, briefly making it Nevada's largest city. That same year it hosted the lightweight championship fight between Joe Gans and Oscar Battling Nelson, putting the whole nation's eyes on the desert.

Then the boom went bust. A fire in 1923 destroyed most of the wooden buildings, and by 2020 the town counted just 225 residents. What survived is the 200-acre Goldfield Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1982, with nearly 120 buildings from 1904 to 1909.

Look for the Goldfield Hotel, built by entrepreneur George Wingfield in 1907 and 1908, and the Esmeralda County Courthouse, still the seat of county government. Movie fans, take note: scenes from Vanishing Point, Cherry 2000 and Desert Blue were filmed here.

Getting here: From Tonopah, take US-95 south about 26 miles, roughly 30 minutes. Goldfield sits right along the highway.

Trivia: Which town's 1906 boxing match drew the nation's attention: Joe Gans versus Oscar Battling Nelson?

Nearby: Services are limited in a town of about 225 people. Top off your tank and water in Tonopah before you leave.