Schellbourne: Gateway to the Goshute Nation

Before Schellbourne: Before the Lincoln Highway, before the Pony Express, and before wagon trains rolled across the plains, the Kusiutta people (the Goshute people) lived here. This desert home made survival difficult, but the extreme climate and remote location protected and isolated the Goshutes from encroaching settlers.

Life in the Great Basin: The surrounding area is part of the Great Basin, and land mass consisting oh high mountain peaks and low desert valleys. Living in the basin was extremely challenging for the Goshute people as they faced dramatic changes in temperature and unforgiving terrain. However, the people connected with the land and prospered in the area. They hunted deer, elk, and antelope, and gathered berries, roots, pine nuts, and grasses to sustain themselves.

A Life Changed: Though the desolation of the area served to protect the Goshutes, in 1827 outsiders arrived and began to influence the people. By the mid-1800s, essential lands were overtaken by the settlers to make way for stage stations and Pony Express routes. The placement of the stations and routes prevented the Goshute people from accessing water and their traditional hunting and gathering sites.

With access to their lands restricted, hostilities grew between the settlers and the Goshutes. The tensions burned for several years until a treaty was on October 12, 1863. The treaty ultimately resulted in the creation of two reservations: 17,248 acres for the Skull Valley Goshute band and 108,000 for the Deep Creek Goshute band, though the reservations were not formally established until 1912.

A life to Live: The Goshute people have faced many hardships since the first group of trappers and explorers entered their lives in 1827, forever changing the Goshute story. In the midst of the chaos and upheaval , the people have maintained their cultural values and have continued to foster their connection to the arid desert landscape. It is this connection that keeps them bound to their birthplace, connected to their ancestry, and looking forward to a lasting future.

This historic marker is located at the Schellbourne Rest Area is located along Highway 93 in Nevada.