Tonopah Boomtown History Event | To promote, preserve, and protect the history of Nevada’s Boomtowns and the people who lived there

The conference will be held in Tonopah, Nevada
August 5th through 9th, 2009
The Schedule of Events & Registration Information Is Available

"Boomtowns in Central & Western Nevada Region”

The Boomtown History Event

A Boomtown celebration conference is to share and preserve historic events and littler known facts about Nevada’s colorful past as it relates to the mining Boomtowns of Nevada and nearby sites in California and Arizona, with emphasis on the occupations, industries and lifestyles of Nevada’s Boomtowns.

News Release Big Bill's family

A direct descendent of Thomas J. & Bridget Murphy the parents of William F. Murphy (Big Bill)stopped at the Central Nevada Museum Thanksgiving weekend and donated some old mining certificates in the name of Daniel P Murphy. Steve Raak visit was almost not detected until a local Member of the Tonopah Mural & Monument Committee, and main supporter of Big Bill and The Belmont Mine Disaster project stopped at the museum weeks latter after a photo shoot in Goldfield.

After verifying that Daniel P Murphy is the brother of William F Murphy (Big Bill) Clair Blackburn then called Steve Raak and verified that he and his two boys are direct descendents of the TJ Murphy family and that they have family history at Steve Raak home in Douglas City, California.

The old Murphy history and photos were saved only because he and his sons were instrumental in preserving that history.

Dave Downing Photographer and author of “Tragedy at Tonopah”, Old West Magazine 1994 was elated and said “after 20-plus years of searching for relatives of Big Bill we have finally come to the end of our search and located the direct descendant of Tonopah’s most famous hero. Steve Raak (pronounced Rock) lives near Redding, California and is a direct descendent and … incredibly… has pictures of Big Bill and his family” “This is a MAJOR discovery for us in Tonopah.”

Seen Below - The Campbell & Kelly model shop

Click images below for a larger view

The 2009 Nevada Boomtown conference is the third in the series and focuses on the Central Nevada region between 1900-1930.

Displays all over town, inside and out with photo shoots & movies. Goldfield Days Celebration will be on the Aug 14th & 15th “Old Timers Picnic will be on Saturday Aug 15th 2009 so come spend a historical week in Tonopah.

Live Presentations and lots of costumes, great food and fun!

MEET NEVADA MAGAZINE - On Saturday, August 8, in the Tonopah Convention Center (during the Nevada Boomtown History Event), we will meet and greet visitors and Tonopah citizens.

The Tonopah Conference

The conference usually consist of pre and post conference tours. Scheduled tours for 2009 Tonopah conference:

Tonopah Historic Mining Park and showing of the Mining Park movie.

Central Nevada Museum and grounds exhibits.

Campbell’s old Foundry and wood molds and model shop,
Tonopah first miners hideout with miners exhibit & dress up photo shoot.

Historic restorations (ongoing and completed) in Goldfield“ This is the 1/2 day tour of Goldfield.

Click on Schedule of Events For More Information

Below Are A Few of the Conference Presenters

Nicholas Clapp

The “Largest Photograph in World” taken in Tonopah with the camera that was build in Tonopah 1913 in Campbell & Kelly machine shop.

Author of “The Road to Ubar & Sheba: Through the Desert in Search of the Legendary Queen” and “Who Killed Chester Pray?” A Death Valley Mystery. Add his story why the searching for Cirkut Cameras.

Jeanne Howerton

The Great Auto Race from New York to her
home town area Rail Road Valley. On Nov 3rd
Luke took the route of the old racers—as closely as he could since a lot of the racers traveled along the RR tracks which will be off limits this time.

Cherry Creek is a ghost town in Steptoe Valley north of McGill, about 8 miles or so west of the highway. The stop north of that would be Currie. They plan to go out through Robinson Canyon and to Veteranbr /> (no longer exists) and down toward Currant.

JJeanne guided them and yes they found the very place that the Thomas flyer broke down. They went past Twin Springs and on to Tonopah, and then on down to Goldfield the next morning and on to Death Valley

Jim Galli

Jim Galli and “The hunt for parts that helped made the big 22 inch 1913 Cirkut Camera that made the worlds largest picture and was built in Campbell & Kelly’s in Tonopah, NV Jim will demonstration his old #10 Cirkut camera by take a large panorama photo of the group.

Pictured left: Jim Galli and his #10 Cirkut Camera

See Jim’s web site: http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com

Seen Below: Cirkut photo taken by Jim Galli with his #10 Cirkut camera at Campbell & Kelly Forge. Jim jumped in the photo. Click image for a larger view

Dave Downing

Dave Downing, author of "Tragedy at Tonopah," will present material on how he came to write the original story about William F. "Big Bill" Murphy for Old West magazine. He will also give an update on the search for direct descendants of Murphy. Downing is a former employee of the Associated Press and former Managing Editor for the now defunct Death Valley Gateway Gazette and is currently retired. He is the recipient of several awards of merit from the Nevada Press Association. Downing is a 27-year resident of Tonopah, Nevada.

Jim Price

Bringing them back: some historic
preservation efforts today in Goldfield and
Tonopah.

This will be the story of several projects going
on today by private individuals to ensure that
future generations will be able to enjoy and
appreciate Nevada boomtown history.

Among the projects that are underway in Goldfield, for example: restoration of historic homes including one recently owned by the author; preservation of miner's shacks with authentic and functional furnishings; reconstruction of a railroad car barn; and renovation of the city's telephone and telegraph office. And then there's the complete remodeling of the Northern Saloon and Cafe, now a going business enterprise worthy of praise in any town.

Tonopah “Nevada Boomtown History Event” 2009

The conference will be held in Tonopah, Nevada August 5th through 9th, 2009 The Schedule of Events & Registration Information Is Available