Our next history lesson occurred at the Grimes Point Archaeological Area (99.9 miles from South Lake Tahoe).
The Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe named this area Su-u for the type of volcanic rock found here. Grimes Point is a field of basalt boulders. Their glossy black patina (or "desert varnish") made an ideal surface for creating images called petroglyphs. These petroglyphs, which may be several thousand years old, are still visible today on hundreds boulders.During the Pleistocene Epoch, this area and most of northwestern Nevada, was covered by ancient Lake Lahontan. Over the last 10,000 years, the level of ancient Lake Lahontan fluctuated widely, at times drying up completely. When above water, the Grimes Point area would have been marshland with a wide variety of wetland plants and animals available for use by prehistoric populations.Some petroglyphs show animals and humans, others form unique designs with lines. We were intrigued by the "pit and groove" style, which featured groups of circular pits and long, narrow grooves. This technique is the oldest.There are over 1,000 pieces of ancient rock art, making this one of the most important archaeological sites in the Great Basin. We are planning to return and explore further. History is truly found in the most unique (and times, remote) places.We stopped for a brief pause to ogle adventurers, at the 4,795 acre Sand Mountain Recreation Area.Created by the migration and deposition of windblown sand as it is stopped by the rising Stillwater Mountains bordering to the north, east and west, the most dominant feature of the dune system is Sand Mountain which is approximately 3.5 miles long, 1 mile wide and 600 feet in height, making it the largest single dune in the Great Basin.Alongside a stretch of the historic Lincoln highway, U.S. Route 50, dubbed the Loneliest Road in America, is an isolated Wild West-style saloon announced by a wooden sign that (accurately) describes its location as “in the middle of nowhere.”This rustic restaurant in the heart of the Nevada desert, decorated with bull skulls, a neon “BAR” sign, and an antique wagon, is Middlegate Station, a historic eatery created in the 19th century as a stop on the Pony Express.Founded in 1857 by James Simpson, the restaurant that stands today was once an active station and rest stop along the historic Pony Express Trail, serving horses and their riders alike. Due to its location between two gate-like cuts in the mountains—known as Eastgate and Westgate—this station became known as Middlegate Station.When the Pony Express ceased operations in October of 1861, Middlegate Station remained open, serving as a stage and freight stop for gold and silver mines. Ever since, it has survived as the only gas station for nearly 50 miles in either direction and a rare roadside eatery along the Lincoln Highway. It was far too late in our day, and far too crowded with off roaders, to dine here, but a promise was made to return one day.As the sun was setting, we decided to call it a day in the little town of Gabbs. Founded in December 1941 as a company town for Basic Magnesium, Inc. (BMI), which operated a magnesium production plant in the area (and still does). The town grew out of an earlier mining camp named Brucite (after the magnesium oxide brucite that occurred locally), and took the name of the surrounding Gabbs Valley, itself named after paleontologist William Gabb (who had studied fossil specimens from the area).And while the town has seen better days, we had a wonderful evening boondocking in the parking lot of the Senior Center.
“The world's mine oyster, Which I with sword will open.” -Shakespeare
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2 comments:
fun sites worth a return, so that we can also visit Hidden Caves above the Grimes petroglyphs, and perhaps a less rambunctious weekday at Middlegate : )
What a cool spot! Love all of the petroglyphs and morteros. Amazing. It is now on my list! Thanks!
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