Located in Nye County approximately 60 miles northeast of Tonopah, this once thriving mining town—now little more than a tiny Nevada ghost town—was discovered in 1866 when a local Native American led White prospectors to an area where silver ore had been found; however, it wasn’t until 1874 that Tybo became an established mining town. Its name comes from the Shoshone word “tybbabo” or “tai-vu” which means “White man’s district.”
After starting out as a nice, quiet town, not unlike other boom and bust towns in Nevada, racial and ethnic problems led to violence. Today, this tiny Nevada ghost town town is rich in Nevada history and is a rather interesting place to go exploring. Take a look.
Tybo is located 8 miles northwest of U.S. Route 6 in Nye County.
During its heyday, Tybo was home to approximately 1,000 residents and had a school, post office, banks, local businesses and stores, saloons, a local newspaper (The Tybo Sun), and a brick schoolhouse. Today, the landscape is decorated with buildings in various stages of decay.
Comprised primarily of central Europeans, Irish, and Cornish, ethnic tensions soon arose in this peaceful town. This lead to hot words, fistfights, and murders. Several nameless graves are scattered around the town's remains.
Two charcoal kilns were constructed and many Chinese workers were hired to cut the wood for the smelters. At this point, the townsfolk put aside their own differences and turned their collective anger toward the Chinese.
One night, a group of white townsfolk raided the Chinese camp and sent the workers scurrying into the nearby hills. After they were rounded up, the Chinese were forced to leave for fear of being murdered.
In 1881, the Tybo Consolidated Mining District failed due to a declining quality of ore, and, by the end of the year, the town's population fell to just 100.
The town's prosperity rose and fell according to mining activity. Revivals occurred throughout the early 1990's. In 1925, mining activity increased enough to sustain Tybo for the next 12 years. Since 1937, smaller operations have led to a handful of caretakers remaining to watch over the town.
Trowbridge's General Store is one of Tybo's few remaining buildings. Other buildings are scattered, and the town, the charcoal ovens, a small cemetery, and the remains of the mines provide numerous photo opportunities. Beware, however, there are some uncovered mine shafts so watch your step!
Today, a few people call this tiny Nevada ghost town home, but, for the most part, this once thriving mining town is yet another in a long list of Nevada ghost towns. Interestingly, Tybo’s charcoal kilns are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Have you explored this interesting and historic tiny Nevada ghost town? Please share your experiences below.
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