Known as “the Pittsburgh of the West”, Eureka, Nevada was the nation’s first important silver-lead district, and was Nevada’s second richest mineral producer during the 1800s. Sixteen smelters operated just outside town, treating ore from over 50 active mines. Pictured here is the Eureka Consolidated Mill and Smelter ca. 1880.
The United States built 2,710 Liberty ships between 1941 and 1945, averaging 1.5 ships a day.
Made with antiquated but easily manufactured technology, they were built in record time. Each ship took an average of just 42 days to complete.
The ships were lightly armed, but one notable example, the SS Stephen Hopkins, managed to fight a cargo raider to mutual destruction.
Currently, only four remain. Three are museums, while the fourth is a landlocked canning facility.
