BLM archaeologists tell Rhyolite ghost town story on Nevada Day weekend

Two Bureau of Land Management (BLM) archaeologists told a popular ghost town's story during Nevada Day Weekend just outside Beatty ahead of Halloween. Ashton Jenks and Erin Gillett represented the Battle Mountain and Winnemucca Districts respectively, by hosting dozens of visitors in Rhyolite Oct. 26, 2024, at the once-promising site for prospectors.

Nevada Day is celebrated on the last Friday in October and recalls the date, Oct. 31,1864, when Nevada became a state. Evidence of its history, the bygone businesses and livelihood, of the late 19th and early 20th century cast their shadows over Jenks and Gillett as the pair happily shared a century-old tale.

“Honestly, [we had] multiple goals for this weekend, but I think the main one I had in mind was having fun,” said Jenks, the archaeologist for Tonopah Field Office. Jenks recalled childhood experiences and a mother who signed them up for tours while they traveled the world as military family members. “My other goal was to show how important it is to take care of cultural sites for future generations, and how important the work we do at the BLM is to that preservation,” Jenks said.

The Tonopah Field Office, where Jenks serves, is responsible for managing public lands in and around Rhyolite. Jenks joined the BLM just four months ago having recently graduated from college in Wisconsin earning a degree in history while gaining related experience in tribal interests and preservation among others. Jenks said that the TFO's resource management area is very different compared to Wisconsin. Having help was important for many reasons.

Jenks credited Gillett, TFO's former archaeologist and Karl Olsen, the site's day-to-day caretaker for helping make the opportunity a success. [Their input] was extremely helpful as [they added] to the historic script we had on things such as what recent preservation efforts have happened here, and other little tidbits that you just learn on the job.”

There were two scheduled starts and signing up was a requirement for safety, but Jenks and Gillett accommodated stragglers who happened to be on site.

“I learned that if you open a historic building for a tour group, you will inevitably acquire more people to your tour group," Jenks said. "I also learned more about things that I can add to future tours, and ways I can engage the public in regard to other archaeological sites in our district."