Skip to ContentCamels really hauled salt to the silver mills. The camel races started as a newspaper spoof. Story first, then the record.
Checked November 3, 2026. Every claim below names the page it was read on.
Half trueNot a verified fact until the answer says so
The Story
Virginia City says camels once hauled salt for the silver mills, and the town now holds the International Camel and Ostrich Races each September. The Nevada Historical Society’s talk description says camels appeared in Nevada in the 1860s Comstock era and hauled salt from inland deposits to Virginia City for the silver-ore mills [3]. News coverage tells that the races began in 1959 with a spoof in the Territorial Enterprise [4][1].
What Is Actually True
- Camels hauling salt is documented in print. A Territorial Enterprise item from 1863 describes camels bringing salt from the Walker River marshes to the Central Mill, as reported by Desert Companion (KNPR) [2]. The Intermountain Histories page ties the salt demand to the Washoe process, which used a salt solution, and says camels reached Virginia City in 1865 [1]. The two sources disagree on arrival (1863 report vs. 1865) and on the salt source (Walker River marshes, Columbus Salt Marsh, Humboldt Salt Marsh near Lovelock) [1][2].
- The animals came by way of importer Otto Esche and his agent Julius Bandmann; the sources differ on the count (nine camels per Desert Companion; thirteen Bactrians bought by Bandmann per Intermountain Histories) [1][2].
- In 1875 Nevada banned camels from running at large on public roads; both sources give that year, and Intermountain Histories says the law is still on the books [1][2].
- The Nevada Historical Society’s talk (Jan. 19, 2023) covered camels in the 1860s Comstock-Austin freighting business after Austin’s spring 1863 boom [3]. The library page lists the series speaker as Eric Moody while the title names Neal Cobb, so do not credit a speaker.
- The races: a 1959 Territorial Enterprise editor’s spoof was reprinted as true by the San Francisco Chronicle, then the two papers raced for real, per Intermountain Histories and News 4 [1][4]. News 4 says the 2024 event was the 65th year, with camels, ostriches and zebras [4].
Still Unconfirmed
A single agreed arrival year; Bandmann’s profit figures; the 1905 Nevada herd; claims that people ate camels (sourcing not given in the article).
Frequently Asked Questions
Did camels really haul salt to Virginia City?
Yes, per the Nevada Historical Society, Intermountain Histories and Desert Companion [1][2][3].
When did the camel races start?
In 1959 as a newspaper hoax that became real [1][4].
Are camels allowed on Nevada roads?
A 1875 law banned camels at large on public roads, still on the books per Intermountain Histories [1].
Sources
- Camels (Filed under The Environment), Intermountain Histories. Read 2026-11-03.
- “Hump Days”, Desert Companion / KNPR. Read 2026-11-03.
- High Noon series event: Camels in the Comstock-Austin Freighting Business of the 1860s (2023-01-19), Washoe County Library System listing for the Nevada Historical Society. Read 2026-11-03.
- Camel and ostrich races return to Virginia City for its 65th year, KRNV News 4. Read 2026-11-03.
Cite this page: It’s Reno editorial team, “Camels Carried Salt to The Comstock,” itsreno.com/legends/comstock-camels/, checked November 3, 2026. Legends are labelled as legends; ghost stories are never invented.