Bristol Wells Town Site | |
 Oldcharcoal kilns at the site | |
   | |
| Location | Lincoln County, Nevada |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Pioche, Nevada |
| Coordinates | 38°6′9.72″N114°41′28.98″W / 38.1027000°N 114.6913833°W /38.1027000; -114.6913833 |
| Built | 1870 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000765 |
| Added to NRHP | March 24, 1972[1] |
Bristol Wells, also known asNational City,Bristol City andTempest, is aghost town inLincoln County, Nevada. The mining town was located on the west side of Bristol Mountain, 14 miles (23 km) northwest ofPioche, Nevada.
The first mining claims were staked in 1870. The district was organized the next year when the settlement of National City grew around the National Mine. In 1872 a furnace was built to treatsilver-lead ore from the Bristol Mine, 4 miles (6.4 km) to the east. In 1878 a richer deposit was found, resulting in the construction of astamp mill. The settlement was renamed Bristol City the same year. The stamp mill expanded in 1880 and a smelter was built, while stone ovens were built to providecharcoal for the smelter. The town's wells provided water to the mines. By 1890 a new smelter was built to treatcopper ore, and the town's population reached 400.[2][3]
Activity declined after 1893. A leach-recovery plant built in 1900 operated for two years, recovering copper. In 1913 anaerial tramway was built toJackrabbit, Nevada, 2 miles (3.2 km) to the northeast, where ore could be loaded on theLos Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad. Mining activity continued intermittently, sharply declining after 1918. The town was briefly renamed Tempest after the Tempest Mine in 1922, returning to Bristol in 1929. The post office continued until 1950.[3]
The townsite was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1972.[1]
| Topics | |
|---|---|
| Lists by state |
|
| Lists by insular areas | |
| Lists by associated state | |
| Other areas | |
| Lists of specific structure types | |
| Related | |
