SILVER MOUNTAIN CITY

NAME: Silver Mountain City
COUNTY: Alpine
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 1
CLIMATE: Mild in the summer, heavy snow in winter
BEST TIME TO VISIT: mid-May to October--Ebbetts Pass closed in winter
COMMENTS: On State Highway 4--about 7 miles east of Ebbetts Pass...on the north side of the highway
REMAINS: Ruins of old stone jail is all that is left at the townsite. The Alpine Hotel in Markleeville was originally the Fisk Hotel in Silver Mountain City. In 1885, it was dismantled, transported and reassembled in Markleeville where it remains today.
Originally called "Kongsberg". Founded in the late 1850's-early 1860's by Scandinavian miners prospecting for silver. By 1863, the name was changed to Silver Mountain City. By 1866, the town had a population of 3,000. It was the county seat of Alpine County from 1864 to 1875. The demonetization of silver in 1873 caused its decline. Silver Mountain City was pretty much abandoned by 1886. Submitted by: Tim Blomgren


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City in 1867
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City Scandanavian Toll Road
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Silver Mountain City
Courtesy Chris Geigle


Fisks Hotel Cellar Hole
Courtesy Chris Geigle

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