Goldfield was once the center of urban sophistication when it was Nevada's largest city in 1907. This city once had a population of 30'000 with uncounted stores and saloons. The most famous one, Tex Rickard's Northern, had a bar so long 80 tenders were necessary.

The all-time high in production was $11'000'000, but this phenomenal figure dropped to $5'000'000 by 1912, and those who recognized the signs began to pull out. In 1918 the mines put out only $1'500'000 and this was cut in half the next year. The next three together saw only $150'000 produced. Then even this dwindled and Goldfield joined the ranks of has-beens.

The town's Goldfield Hotel, now closed, was once the most opulent hostel between Kansas City and San Francisco.