Mariscal Mine
Also known as: Lindsey Mine,Ellis Mine
Why it's listed
Mariscal Mine is a former quicksilver mining and processing site at the northern end of Mariscal Mountain in Big Bend National Park, Texas. Cinnabar was first found there in 1900. D. E. Lindsey mined it first, and W. K. Ellis added storage bins and a retort. The Mariscal Mining Company bought the property in 1919 and built a larger plant with a 45-ton brick Scott Furnace, concrete condenser chambers, a chimney, a commissary and housing. Workers built twenty or more stone homes themselves. Falling quicksilver prices ended operations in 1923, and a 1942 revival by the Vivianna Mining Company failed in 1944. Today the site is a ruin. Concrete and stone walls remain, while frame and adobe buildings have collapsed and open shafts dot the area. The mine was listed as a representative example of the early cinnabar industry that helped shape the Big Bend region, despite its poor financial results.
Significance in brief: Cinnabar mining was one of the major industries behind the development of the Big Bend area. Although the Mariscal Mine was a financial failure, the nomination considers it typical of early mining enterprises there and able to tell the story of the industry's contribution to the region's history.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74000279, listed September 13, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | River Rd., Big Bend National Park |
|---|---|
| County | Brewster County |
| Listed | September 13, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000279 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1900-1944 |
| Architect / builder | Mariscal Mining Company; Vivianna Mining Company (1942-43 additions) |
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In ruins; no structure remains intact. Concrete and stone walls stand best, the furnace is disintegrating, and many mine shafts are unprotected. |
| Acreage | 640 |
| Coordinates | 29.11588, -103.09912 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74000279.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6765598
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.