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Camels in Dayton

Camels in Dayton

Camels in Dayton Overview

Camels were imported into the United States and tested for military purposes in the mid-1850’s.

The experiment failed and the camels were auctioned.

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.

Category

  • Military
  • Mining

Marker Type

Blue marker

Nevada Historical Marker Number

Camels in Dayton is Nevada Historical Marker #199.

Click here to view the complete list of Nevada State Historical Markers.

County

Lyon County, Nevada

GPS Coordinates

39.238749-119.591254

Nevada Historical Marker Transcription

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 corraled 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 1880s.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER No. 199

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

DAYTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

References Used

Camels in Dayton