A School Frozen in Time
On the corner of Euclid & Ramsey in Goldfield, Nevada, the Goldfield High School stands in a state of graceful decay. While most visitors come to see the Goldfield Hotel, this school is one of the oldest surviving structures in town. Peering inside, and it feels as if time stopped in 1952, the year it closed.
A Grand Beginning
The school opened in 1907, during Goldfield’s gold rush boom, when the town’s population peaked at 20,000 residents. At the time, it was the largest and best-equipped high school in Nevada.
The Nevada State Journal called it “one of the state’s points of pride”, describing its modern, sanitary design. Built at a staggering cost of $103,000 (about $2.6 million today), it was a symbol of Goldfield’s prosperity. It even had the only standard-sized basketball court in Nevada outside the University of Nevada.
Goldfield‘s Decline & The School’s Fate
As Goldfield’s mining operations became less profitable, the population began to shrink. When the town’s largest mining company left in 1919, it was clear Goldfield was in decline. Then in 1923, a massive fire, caused by an exploding still, destroyed most of the town. Only two major buildings survived: the Goldfield Hotel and the high school.
A School in Limbo
After its closure, Goldfield High School changed hands several times. In 2000, it was auctioned for just $8,000. Later, it was even listed on eBay with a starting bid of $30,000, but it’s unclear if it ever sold or what the final price was.
Exploring the School in 2013
In the summer of 2013, I had the rare chance to explore the school in the summer of 2013 with my friend Helmey Kramer, and it did not disappoint. The structure was weathered but still intact, with original desks, chairs, and chalkboards standing in empty classrooms. One of the most striking details? Old writing on the walls, messages left behind by the children who once studied there.
FYI: Paranormal Investigations at Goldfield High School
Given the building’s long and eerie history, it’s no surprise that some believe spirits still roam its halls.
While I’m not personally affiliated, I recently learned that Goldfield High School is open for overnight paranormal investigations. If you’ve ever wanted to explore this eerie, abandoned school after dark, click here for more info.
Preserving Goldfield’s History
Since 2008, the Goldfield Historical Society has been working to restore the high school and preserve its legacy. If you’d like to support their efforts, visit the Goldfield Historical Society website to learn more. Even in its current state of decay, Goldfield High School remains a haunting reminder of a once-thriving town, and for some, perhaps a school that never truly closed.
That stairwell is amazing!!
It was such a neat building! It has a really pretty skylight above it, but I wasn’t able to get a good shot of it.
I heard about this on one of my favorite television shows, Ghost Adventures.
Zak Bagans is incredible in his line of work.
We have been fortunate enough to be able to go inside the school house and do paranormal investigation on three different occasions. It really does seem to come alive if you give it time. You can actually hear the sounds of small children talking to you without any kind of equipment. You hear them with just your ears. Many other fantastic experiences as well. If you ever have the chance to investigate the school house be sure to take that chance.
My father graduated high school from the Goldfield School in 1931 and I went through the 4th grade in that school in 1949-1950.
Wow! That is really cool. How did you like living in Goldfield?