Lost City Museum Holds Holiday Open House

By NICK YAMASHITA

The Progress

The Lost City Museum held its annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 11. The event is one of the downtown Overton museum’s big fundraisers for the year. It is hosted each year by the volunteers of the Museum’s Docent Council.

The event kicked off with free admission to the public. Multiple local musicians played Christmas music during the open house. In addition, a group of artists were on hand to answer questions about upcoming exhibits at the museum.

The current exhibit is an outstanding photography show by William Willis Photography and VL2 Photography. The photography featured outstanding color and black and white photography from the West, including bison and vast landscapes.

Museum Director Mary Beth Timm expressed appreciation for the engagement from the local Moapa Valley community in the museum.

“We are overwhelmed by the support from the community and we are so grateful to everyone who helped make this happen,” she said. “We want to wish everyone Happy Holidays.”

Members of the museum Docent Council spearheaded the planning of the event. This organization is a group of volunteers who give time, funds, and other support in making sure the museum is able to provide educational programs and operate without any hindrance.

“We support the museum in unbudgeted items that are needed,” stated Docent President Jim Reilly.
Besides the music and light refreshments including Christmas-themed cookies, the event also held a huge raffle drawings including over 70 prize items donated by local businesses.

The raffle included baskets, gift cards, apparel and more from the following businesses: Overton Ace Hardware, BEX Sunglasses, CABlp, Cal’s Auto, Danielle’s Chocolates, Dr. Askeroth, Dr. Staley, D’Thai Bistro, Eagle’s Landing, Mr. Taco, Extreme Stitch, Fit Physical Therapy, The Front Porch, True Value Home Hardware, Inside Scoop, Iron Mountains Dry Cleaners, Jo Parker, Karen Alsum Farmers Insurance, Kayla Doty Photography, Kuppa Joe, La Fonda Restaurant, Lost City Museum & Docent Council, Lin’s, Los Lupes, McDonald’s, Mesquite Recreation Center, Overton NAPA, Ozaki Honey, Sage Health and Home, Pizza Leavitt, T-hair-apy, Pizza Hut, Vytality, and Russ Leavitt. There were also anonymous cash and prize donations made.

Grand prizes included a 3-day and 2-night stay at Eureka Hotel and Casino with a $75 coupon for Gregory’s. Also, Criss Angel donated two VIP tickets to his show “Mindfreak.”

The raffle drawing was done by a young child, Sarah Johnson and were announced by Timms.
Autumn Simmons won a number of the prizes. Simmons said that she had just come to support the museum and her friends who work there.

Reilly expressed appreciation for all who were involved in the Open House event.
“We really just need to thank the whole communities of Mesquite and Moapa Valley,” he said, “along with our secretary Sally Wirth and Ellen VanErt who helped do 99% of the raffl ticket sales and most of the work. This is always a success because of volunteers like them.”

The next big event for the Lost City Museum will be an Archaeology Fair held on January 29. This will feature presentations by actual archeologists, mock excavations every hour, and more. The exhibit will be provided by Las Vegas famed artist and gallery owner Jeff Fulmer.

For more information visit the Lost City Museum at 721 S. Moapa Valley Blvd or call (702) 397-2193.