By CATHERINE ELLERTON
Moapa Valley Progress
The Lost City Museum opened a new year-long exhibit entitled “Nevada Milestones” on Friday last week. The exhibit, designed by Exhibits Specialist Denise Sins, Director Jerrie Clarke, Archeologist Dena Sedar, features the story of Nevada to celebrate the beginning of the State’s year-long 150th anniversary celebration.
This story weaves from the beginnings of the Anasazi, through mining, gambling, women’s rights, archeological discoveries and politics. The Museum is part of that history as the building itself was built in 1935 on an old puebloan site. This was the same year that the Valley of Fire became the first State Park.
The discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859 in northern Nevada began the mining boom. Later gold and silver were discovered near Austin in 1862. In 1897 gold was discovered near Searchlight.
Nevada, which is known as the Silver State, is currently the 4th largest producer of gold in the world.
The State motto – “Battle Born” – was selected because Nevada was admitted to the Union during the Civil War. On October 31, 1864, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Nevada to be the 36th State.
I joined young Allie, Mark and Luke Nelson of Logandale in discovering and discussing many of the State’s symbols. Young Luke said. as he looked at the shell of the State Reptile, the Desert Tortoise, that it was sleeping and so we should whisper. This we did.
When we saw the State Fish, the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, Mark advised that his Dad had caught one once but not in Nevada.
This informative exhibit is displayed in the artists’ section of the main room. A wonderful selection of photographs taken by John K. Hillers from 1871 – 1873 is augmented by the memories of Evelyn Samalor of the Moapa Paiute Nation.
The viewer’s attention is then captured by the art of ‘Dreamtime Images’ of Joyce and Brian Spavin. Two creative wall hangings captured one’s imagination.
This exhibit is designed to capture the interest of young and old alike. If you wish to know who the first and only woman executed in Nevada was; or when and where the first train robbery in the West was; run, don’t walk, to the Lost City Museum to see this engaging new exhibit.
