Tachatticup Mine / Nelson, Nevada

(updated on Jan. 30, 2008)

Distance from Las Vegas : 45 Miles
Time of year to visit : All Year
Gasoline Available : No

Services Available :


Road Conditions :
Nevada Department of Transportation

Tourist Information :
Nevada Commission on Tourism
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)

Tachatticup Mine and Nelson History:
As you make your way towards the Colorado River you will enter El Dorado Canyon where the richest claims in Nevada history were staked. Gold and Silver were discovered here in 1859 and soon the richest mines in the state were started. In the 1880's the town of Nelson grew to a population of 500 men. Many of which were said to be deserters from both the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. It was assumed that the isolated location of the town would discourage military authorities from looking for them.

The town of Nelson was named after Charles Nelson, a prospector who was slain at his mine in 1897.

The three largest mines were called the Wall Street, the Swabe and the Tachatticup. All three mines combined yielded five million dollars of ore during the 40-years that they operated. Today the Tachatticup Mine serves as a tourist location where you can take an hour long tour. The area is surrounded by old artifacts, antiques and props from the movie "3000 Miles to Graceland".

Directions:
• Take US-93 South / US-95 South leaving Las Vegas towards Boulder City
• Merge onto US-95 S / VETERANS MEMORIAL HWY toward SEARCHLIGHT / LAUGHLIN / NEEDLES and continue for approx. 10 miles,
• Turn LEFT on NV-165 and continue for 11. miles until you reach Nelson, NV. The Tachatticup Mine is after Nelson just under 2 miles.