Fallon in Churchill County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Forty-Mile Desert, immediately to the north, was the most dreaded portion of the California Emigrant Trail. Ragtown was the first water stop after the desert. To the thirst-crazed emigrants and their animals, no site was more welcome than the trees lining the Carson River.
Imagine, if you will, the moment when the animals first picked up the scent of water--the lifted head, the quickened pace, and finally mad, frenzied dash to the water's edge. Then, rest and repair for the arduous crossing of the Sierra Nevada that lay ahead.
In 1854, Asa Kenyon located a trading post near Ragtown. Here he offereed goods and supplies to the trappers. During the 1850's and 1860's, Ragtown was one of the most important sites on the Carson Branch of the California Trail.
Erected by Nevada State Park System and the Churchill County Historical Committee. (Marker Number 19.)
Location. 39° 30.341′ N, 118° 55.153′ W. Marker is in Fallon, Nevada, in Churchill County. Marker is on Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8341 Reno Highway, Fallon NV 89406, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Churchill County Courthouse (approx. 7.8 miles away); a different marker also named Churchill County Courthouse (approx. 7.9 miles away); Hazen (approx. 8 miles away); Oats Park School (approx. 8.3 miles away); Lahontan Dam (approx. 8.5 miles away).
Also see . . . New Amended Text for Marker. The Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) recently updated the text of the roughly 260 state historical markers in Nevada. The Nevada SHPO placed the amended text of each individual marker on its website and will change the actual markers in the field as funding allows. Minor changes have been made to the marker for grammar and readability. The link will take you to the Nevada SHPO page for the marker with the amended text. (Submitted on October 25, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.)
Additional keywords. Pioneers
Categories. • Settlements & Settlers •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on May 10, 2011. This page has been viewed 538 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 10, 2011, by Mh of Las Vegas, Nevada. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.