Ely, NV Tourist Attractions
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Around Ely, in the east of the state, are a number of ghost towns which grew up during the 19th century silver boom and were then abandoned. One of the best known of these is Hamilton, 45mi / 72km west. The White Pine Museum in Ely is informative on the area's silver-mining days.Ely is located close to the Utah-Nevada border. It's a great place to base yourself when touring the surrounding attractions. Some of these attractions include the Drugstore Soda Fountains, McGill Swimming Hole, Great Basin Raceway, and the Northern Nevada Railway Ghost Train among several others.
Surroundings
Great Basin National Park
The Great Basin National Park, in the desert region on the border with Utah, is centered on Wheeler Peak (13,062ft/3,981m). The major attraction is the Lehman Caves, with fantastic rock formations.Encompassing the 4214m / 13,063ft high Wheeler Peak, the park is a great spot to explore the great outdoors. Visitors will find wide-open spaces, the Lehman Caves, a variety of animals, and trees that are over 5000 years old. The park offers camping and an abundance of outdoor pursuits including skiing in the winter, hiking, biking, and for those less inclined to activity, star gazing at night.
Lehman Caves
The major attraction in Great Basin National Park is the Lehman Caves, with fantastic rock formations.Located in the Great Basin National Park, the world famous Lehman Caves are a great attraction for all visitors, not just those interested in spelunking. The National Parks Service operates the cave and an admission is charged. Some of the Lehman Caves' most picturesque sights include the Gothic Palace, the Soda Straw, The Parachute, and the Draperies.
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park
The Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park is located near Ely. The park is noted for its six beehive shaped charcoal ovens that have been restored to their original condition. The charcoal ovens were originally used to provide charcoal for the smelting of silver. Today visitors can hike, bike, camp and fish at Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park. The park is also noted for its clear skies at night, ideal for stargazing.
Nevada Northern Railway Museum
The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is located in Ely. This facility has a wide range of displays featuring the history of the Northern Nevada Railroad Company. On site visitors will find fully functioning rolling stock of varying vintages. The Nevada Northern Railway Museum, rolling stock and surrounding railway operation grounds are a National Historic Landmark.
White Pine County Museum
The White Pine County Museum is located in Ely. This small museum has a variety of historical items from Ely and surrounding areas including 19th Century transportation pieces. Also on display is a model of a prehistoric bear found nearby in a cave. One exhibit not to miss is the Hesselgesser Doll Collection.
