Valley residents were invited to attend the opening of a new exhibit exploring the 1925 and 1926 Lost City Pageants on April 11. The pageants were historic celebrations that inspired the creation of the Boulder Dam Park Museum — now the Lost City Museum — in 1935. The exhibit, called “A Century of Lost City,” was created in conjunction with America’s 250th anniversary and marks the 100th anniversary of the last pageant, held in April 1926. Museum representative Ray Robbins gave an informative lecture on the importance of the pageants and their pivotal role in sparking public interest in the region’s archaeological excavations. 

“In the 1920s, Nevada’s economy relied on mining and agriculture. After World War I, precious metals and agricultural goods weren’t worth as much money anymore. Mining and farming just could not feasibly sustain Nevada’s economy any longer. Governor James Scrugham understood the need to find new sources of income for the state, so he began to emphasize tourism as a way to revive Nevada’s economy. It was through his efforts that archaeological sites and parks like Valley of Fire and Cathedral Gorge came to be. He was really ahead of his time and doesn’t really get the credit he deserves for the huge influence he had on what Southern Nevada is all about these days.” 

The excavations were halted when Governor Scrugham lost his bid for re-election in 1927 to Fred Balzar. Governor Balzar was instrumental in legalizing gambling and changing the divorce laws in Nevada. Scrugham went on to serve in Congress and helped establish the Civilian Conservation Corps, which later resumed the excavations and built the museum in the 1930s. 

Robbins continued, “Eventually other people caught up with what he was trying to do. He was a big proponent for Hoover Dam. Between the dam, the parks, Lost City, one way or another, he was involved in all of it.” 

The new exhibit, featuring photos, artifacts and informative plaques, is now open daily, Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the museum’s location in Overton.