Marietta, Nevada

[1] However, before Smith came to the area it had been periodically mined for salt, which was used in the processing of ore in the Virginia City, Aurora, NV, and Bodie, CA mills.

The town soon boasted 13 saloons, a post office, several stores (including the one owned and operated by 'Borax' Smith), and many stone and adobe structures.

Despite the crime, scraping the marsh and processing the borax and salt was very lucrative, as was some small amount of gold and silver mining nearby.

Smith had found much larger and more extensive borax deposits in the Death Valley, California area, and once he had established his works there, he closed down his operations in Marietta.

In the 1930s some work in the nearby ranges in silver and gold operations saw a brief resurgence in the town, but this did not last long, and Marietta again slipped into obscurity.

Visitors to the site of Marietta should take care not to enter or trespass on any of these private properties while exploring the ruins of the town.