Nevada Historical Landmarks in Lyon County

Nevada Historical Landmark 199
Camels in Dayton
Pike Street Between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
Dayton

Nevada Historical Marker 199: Camels in Dayton
Nevada Historical Marker 199: Camels in Dayton
15 July 2008
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Camels in Dayton

Camels were imported into the United States for military purposes in the mid-1850's. Lt. Edward Beale of the U.S. Army tested the animals for possible caravan operations in the deserts of the Southwest. The experiment was not successful and the camels were auctioned off. Some were brought here to haul wood and salt to the mines and mills of the Comstock. They were corralled behind this stone hay barn, known as the Leslie Hay Barn. Used extensively between Sacramento and Nevada points for some ten years, they were later abandoned to fend for themselves. Few were seen after the 1880's.

State Historical Marker No. 199
Nevada Sate Park System
Dayton Historical Society

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