Ely railway complex declared historic landmark

Nevada Northern Railway's East Ely Yards have been declared a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.

The site joins the Hoover Dam, Leonard Rockshelter, Fort Churchill, Fort Ruby, Newlands Mansion, and the Comstock Historic District as Nevada National Historic Landmark sites.

"The Nevada Northern Railway complex is the last remaining complete standard-gauge railroad in the United States," said Ron James, State Historic Preservation officer. "It's more remarkable when you consider all the railroad cars, equipment, rail lines and even company records are all still there in Ely."

The railway was built in 1905 to transport ore from the Nevada Consolidated Copper Co. mines west of Ely to the Central Pacific Railroad line east of Wells. It also served the copper smelting plant at McGill north of Ely.

The rail line was officially abandoned in 1987. The Nevada Northern Railway Museum took ownership of the railroad complex in 2000.

The listing will make the Nevada Northern Railway Complex eligible for special programs including Save America's Treasure's grants.