A Walk Back in Time- Sutro Tunnel

Dayton Nevada

Last May I received the rare opportunity to visit and bring some fellow historical researchers to photograph and write about this unique ghost town and event frozen in time. The town of Sutro has been closed to the public for the last 50 years.

On October 19, 1869 Adolph Sutro raised enough money through stock sales to start a 9 year project to dig a 20,498 foot long tunnel from the hills east of Dayton to intersect the deep silver mines under Virginia City to drain, ventilate and provide an emergency exit. But a bigger reason was to provide both easier and cheaper alternate ore haulage for the mines. Sutro even laid out an entire town plat anticipating relocating much of Virginia City’s commerce and population. On September 1, 1878 miners broke through the 1640 foot deep level of the Savage mine under the center of Virginia City. They were only 18” off center. They then dug a 4,403’ lateral to the North and an 8,423’ lateral to the south that terminated at the Alta shaft in Gold Hill. The tunnel continues to this day to collect fees to drain the mines of the Comstock.

Here are a few pictures of a series. But, I just realized that it would be a good idea to post this part now in support of the recent public tour. . October 17, 2021 the Sutro Restoration group is offering tours limited to 100 tickets. Trust me, it’s the opportunity of a dream to see the way things were in 1879.

Click on link below: https://www.tickettailor.com/…/friendsofsutrotunnel/586721

Look at photos in landscape mode for best viewing.
Thank you for invitation Laura Tennant, Pam Abercrombie, Robert Thomasson, Greg Milton.

Stephen Knight

May 2021
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