The Sutro Tunnel Site: Past, Present and Future

Making History

Waiting is often the hardest part of any endeavor. It just so happens, I waited thirty years to access a vital Nevada history site. For some decades, the Sutro Tunnel Site was private property and inaccessible to the public. Recently though, a twenty-eight-acre chunk of it was donated to a non-profit group called “The Friends of Sutro Tunnel” Now a restoration project has been born. Thanks to this blog, I was invited on a special tour of the site. I would not have missed it for anything!

We were able to roam about the remains. There are a respectable number of  structures in various stages of dilapidation and/or restoration. Among these are several original buildings from the 1870’s which include, the warehouse, woodshed, candle house, carriage house, mule barn and the machine shop, which will soon be a museum. I was free to walk into most of these. Then there is the portal to the tunnel itself, encased in a white facade that was added in 1888.

Tunnel Entrance

The tunnel extends 3.8 miles beneath the mountains to the Comstock mines near Virginia City. Its primary purpose was to haul men and supplies to and from the mines and to drain water from them so mining activities could expand. It was also used to remove ore and waste, which was easier than hoisting it out of the mine. But how did all this come to be?

Adolf Sutro, a Prussian immigrant, was a part of the California Gold Rush in the 1850’s, serving as a tobacco merchant. He went to Virginia City when the Comstock silver mining began. In 1860 he proposed a drainage tunnel to help prevent flooding in the mines which could also be an alternate route to and from. This began an eighteen-year ordeal. The first nine years were spent trying to gain support and finance for the proposal. By 1865 he had state and federal approval, but the mines waivered on their support.

In 1869, there was a fire at the Yellowjacket Mine which burned down to the 800-foot level and killed forty-five miners. It was agreed upon that if there had been an escape route from the mine, lives could have been saved. This tragedy opened the way for Sutro to begin his tunnel, which commenced the 19^th of October, 1869. It took the ensuing nine years to complete the tunnel.

By this time much had happened around the portal. Shops, mills, and other structures had been built. Sutro platted a town, which began to grow. Above the town stood his three-story mansion with rare modern amenities, including indoor plumbing with flushing toilets and steam heating throughout the house. The place bustled with activity and the feat was considered a modern marvel by many. Tracks laid upon wooden flooring extended the entire length of the tunnel and men and supplies were hauled to and from in cars pulled by mules. Beneath the boards was the flume that carried the water, nearly four million gallons a day, to the nearby Carson River. Eventually, the water was channeled to a large pond which was situated between the mansion and the town. Dozens of streets and four parks were added to Sutro’s growing metropolis. The celebration of the tunnel completion even caught the attention of President Ulysses Grant, who travelled to Nevada to tour the tunnel firsthand and meet Mr. Sutro. All was well at Sutro. But that would not last.

A typical day at the tunnel during the 1800’s. (Photo credit, Dan Webster)

Abandoning History

The most immediate problem was the fact the Comstock mines were nearly played out by the time the tunnel was completed. Within a few short years some mines stopped pumping water, and therefore stopped paying for tunnel usage. Sutro saw this coming ahead of time and began selling off his Sutro Tunnel Company Stock. In 1879 Sutro’s wife filed for divorce and moved away. Soon after, Sutro himself abandoned the mansion and headed to San Francisco where he would invest in real estate and eventually become mayor.

Adolf Sutro (Photo credit Dan Webster)

With decreasing mining activity and a need for less workers, the town of Sutro began to diminish, eventually becoming a ghost town. The tunnel, however, would carry on with a variety of functions for years to come. It still serviced the mines that remained open, providing water drainage, ventilation and an escape route if needed. Occasionally there would be a severe snowstorm burying Virginia City, preventing the trains from bringing in food and supplies. The tunnel proved to be a vital lifeline as food and supplies were ferried though the tunnel to help the population in these dire times.

Ownership passed hands several times in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. By this time, mules were replaced by electric engines to pull the cars in and out. Up until the 1940’s sporadic activity remained and there was always a caretaker on site. After the outbreak of World War Two, The War Production Board issued order L-208 effectively halting all mining activity in Nevada. Much of the Sutro machinery and equipment was sent off to support the war effort and the tunnel was closed and barred by 1943. Since then, nothing has passed through The Sutro Tunnel but for the trickle of water which still flows from it today. Sutro’s mansion burnt to the ground in 1941.

Some of the old buildings at the tunnel site were reoccupied in the 1960’s. It was somewhat of a party site with a swimming pool and the warehouse converted into a clubhouse of sorts. Eventually, private owners restricted access to the site, and it was abandoned again for many years.

Restoring history

Things are beginning to happen again at The Sutro Tunnel Site. As mentioned above, twenty-eight acres of the site were donated to a nonprofit organization called, “The Friends of Sutro Tunnel.” Stage one of restoration has begun, and I was fortunate enough to witness some of this. Unfortunately, the site does not include the area below, where the actual townsite was. That area is now being developed for a subdivision. But, as far as what was the area of operations, the portal, and the supporting infrastructure, it is on the way to being preserved. At some point in the project the tunnel itself will be opened and restored for tours. As of now there is a visible cave-in about fifty feet from the entrance.

The bad news is that time, weather, nature, and people have caused immense damage to the structures at the site over the years. The good news is, thanks to The Friends of Sutro Tunnel and The Sutro Tunnel Restoration Project, this is now changing. The better news is you can help too! The Friends of Sutro Tunnel, headed by director, Chriss Pattison, will soon be selling tickets for public tours. They are also accepting donations and welcoming you to spread the word about this exciting development in Nevada history.

Please visit them at https://thesutrotunnel.org/ and help to make the difference. You can also call them at (775) 882-7777, or even send snail mail to PO Box 1264 Carson City, NV. 89706. They also have books, t-shirts, and other merchandise for sale. The proceeds go 100% to the restoration effort.

It is a site to behold. Besides the aforementioned structures, there are collapsed remains of others, including the crumbling foundation of Sutro’s mansion. The pond, though not as large as it once was, is still there and surrounded by Cottonwoods and the remains of old  wagons. Geese and other waterfowl come and go. Wild horses may be spotted along the fence line.

It has been said that good things come to those who wait. It has also been said that patience is a virtue. I have never had an abundance of patience, but I can honestly say that after thirty years, The Sutro Tunnel Site was well worth the wait.

Sources

The Friends of Sutro Tunnel. https://thesutrotunnel.org.

Paher, Stanley. Nevada Ghost towns and mining Camps. Nevada Publications, 1970. page 75.

Forgotten Nevada: https://www.forgottennevada.org:  Sutro Tunnel (Lyon Co.)