Gridley Store
National Register of Historic Places

Gridley Store

Austin, Lander County, Nevada
Listed
August 13, 2003
Type
Building
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
03000752

About this property

The Gridley Store, at 247 Water St. in the "Upper Austin" area of Austin, Nevada, is a historic building built in 1863 but with significance dating to 1864, during the American Civil War. It is associated with Reuel Colt Gridley, who reportedly lost a bet and had to carry a 50-pound (23 kg) sack of flour throughout the town. The flour was sold as a benefit to raise money for the U.S. Sanitary Commission, which aided wounded Union soldiers. The single sack was sold and resold, raising considerable funds initially in Austin, then more broadly in Nevada, and later still in the East, in a campaign supported by Mark Twain. The fundraiser eventually earned over US$250,000 (equivalent to $5,146,000 in 2025) The building is a one-story granite stone building. Also known as Gridley & Hobart Store and as Gridley Store Museum, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. Its current exterior appearance dates from it being renovated in c.1985. In 2003, it was operated as a museum by the Austin Historical Society.

Location

247 Water St.
Austin, Lander County, Nevada
39.48959, -117.06302

Categories

MILITARY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

St. George's Episcopal Church
Civil War
0.4 mi
Austin Methodist Church
Civil War
0.4 mi
Lander County Courthouse
Civil War
0.4 mi
Austin Masonic and Odd Fellows Hall
Civil War
0.4 mi
St. Augustine's Catholic Church
Civil War
0.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Reese River Valley Fight
1863Indian Wars
1.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Gridley Store listed on the National Register?

Gridley Store was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 13, 2003.

What type of historic resource is Gridley Store?

Gridley Store is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Gridley Store?

The period of significance for Gridley Store is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1863.

Can I research the history near Gridley Store?

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