Nevada history

Carson City Library will present author Gary Noy on Thursday, May 29, at 6 pm, at the BRIC, the downtown business library. Noy will present an illustrated lecture on unusual and lesser-known stories of Sierra Nevada history, with a special focus on Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada events and personalities.

The presentation is based upon material from his book Sierra Stories: Tales of Dreamers, Schemers, Bigots and Rogues (Heyday and Sierra College Press, 2014), which will be available for sale and signing.

Dr. Michael Fischer will present a lecture on "Reno's Dark Underbelly of Prostitution and Drugs from 1900 through the 1950s" on Thursday, May 15, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. at the Business Innovation Resource Center (the BRIC), 108 E. Proctor Street, Carson City,

The event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Carson City Historical Society in cooperation with the Carson City Library and is part of the Society's "Third Thursday" series of lectures.

Many great events are scheduled throughout the Silver State in the month of April to celebrate Nevada’s Sesquicentennial. These Nevada 150 events help celebrate all things Nevada and bring awareness to the state’s 150th Anniversary of Statehood.

In recognition of the state’s sesquicentennial, Changing Faces and Places: Making Nevada is the second in a series of three Special Collections and University Archives exhibits commemorating 150 years of Nevada history at the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center on the University of Nevada, Reno campus.

The Carson City Democratic Women's Club sponsored a History Tea at the Governor's Mansion on Saturday. Participants dressed in various period clothes and gave presentations on different periods of Nevada history.

Would you like to meet Hannah Clapp, Dr. Eliza Cook or learn about all kinds of Nevada History from the passionate, pathetic or just plain interesting? Two of Carson’s most famous people will be there to delight you along with some 95 plus-year-olds to enlighten you. Don’t miss this !

Many events are scheduled throughout the Silver State in the month of March. These Nevada 150 events help celebrate all things Nevada and bring awareness to the state’s 150th Anniversary of Statehood. Here are some events scheduled for around Carson City and Northern Nevada:

CARSON CITY, Nev. — The story behind the giant footprints found at Nevada State Prison will be told Feb. 20 by paleontologist Gene Hattori.

Hattori, curator of anthropology and state paleontologist at Nevada State Museum, will be the featured speaker in the third lecture of a Nevada Sesquicentennial series sponsored by the Nevada State Prison Preservation Society.
His talk, “Fossils at Nevada State Prison,” will begin at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Silver Oak Executive Conference Center, 1251 Country Club Drive, Carson City. It is free and open to the public.

CARSON CITY, Nev. — How was your first day in prison? That’s what E.K. McDaniel and Glen Whorton will describe at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the Carson Nugget.

Of course, McDaniel and Whorton were able to go home after their first day — because they worked for the Department of Corrections. And both had many days after that to learn the unique job of working on the inside.
Their talk on "My First Day in Prison" is free and open to the public.

From the relics of Nevada’s first hilltop exploration in the 1800s to steam locomotives and 21st century archeological discoveries, Nevada State Museums cover the state’s stories and care for historical objects for generations. To honor Nevada Day and the state’s 150th birthday kickoff, Nevada state museums offer free admission and celebrations across the state Friday, Oct. 25.

One escape from Nevada State Prison fits the category of “great.” Most of the others, not so much. Glen Whorton, former director of the Nevada Department of Corrections, will speak at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Silver Oak Executive Conference Center in Carson City on “Great and not so great escapes from Nevada State Prison.”

His talk is free and open to the public. It is the first in a monthly series of presentations by the Nevada State Prison Preservation Society on the history of the 151-year-old prison.

Carson City will be featured on the C-SPAN network's two channels this weekend after their visit to the capital city earlier this month.

In addition to having feature stories sprinkled in throughout the weekend on the respective networks, both American History TV and Book TV, there will be a block of programming where all of the respective Carson City pieces for their networks will air, said C-SPAN spokeswoman Laura Finch.

In the 74 years since the Nevada Day Parade moved to Carson City, the number of Nevada Day events has multiplied to include contests, parties, carnivals, exhibits and food events. At the same time, the region from which participants come to celebrate in the capital city has diminished.
“It used to be a statewide event,” said Guy Rocha, retired state archivist who continues to stay involved with Nevada history and events. “Now, Nevada Day in Nevada is celebrated principally in Western Nevada.”

CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Nevada State Prison Preservation Society is now accepting memberships from people who want to be among the early pioneers of an effort to create a museum and tours of the state’s oldest prison.
Anyone interested in joining NSPPS is encouraged to attend a general-membership meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Ormsby Room of the Carson City Sheriff’s Office, 911 E. Musser St., Carson City.

The 1905 Baldwin Steam Locomotive No. 25 at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City will ride the rails again Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21.

CARSON CITY – Increased financial disclosure, greater restrictions on contributions and gifts, and tougher penalties for campaign violations are the goals of new legislation for the 2013 Legislature detailed today by Secretary of State Ross Miller.

RENO AUTHOR MAGGY ANTHONY LAUNCHES NEW MYSTERY SERIES BASED IN HISTORIC RENO OF THE 1950s

CARSON CITY – Bill Raggio, a lion of Nevada politics and the state’s longest-serving state senator, passed away during a trip to Australia on Thursday. He was 85.

Officials from around the state expressed sorrow and sympathy for Raggio’s family when news of the loss of the highly-regarded lawmaker was first reported by Las Vegas Sun columnist Jon Ralston early today.

Longtime family friend Greg Ferraro told Ralston: “Officially, Bill Raggio passed away last night at 10pm PST of respiratory illness in Sydney Australia. Funeral arrangements are pending.”

Bill Raggio, who is considered by many to be the most powerful force in Nevada politics over the last 30 years, has died while on vacation in Australia Thursday evening. He was 85.

Jon Ralston of the Las Vegas Sun broke the news.

Raggio was first elected to the Nevada State Senate in 1972. He resigned from the seat he held for 38 years after supporting Democrat Harry Reid in 2010 over Republican Sharron Angle.

Raggio ruled the Nevada State Senate as the GOP leader and chairman of the Finance Committee. It's safe to say that few bills passed the Nevada Legislature in the last 30 years without his approval.

Raggio's legislative biography is here.

RGJ has posted a profile with photo gallery on Raggio's life.

Best quote: "You show me someone who doesn't have detractors, and I'll show you someone who hasn't done a damn thing in their lives."

With Carson City rich with Nevada history, vintage is found everywhere — in museums, homes on the west side and in buildings that line downtown. Vintage can also be found among many of the capital city’s antique stores. Check out this latest blog from the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval has appointed Claudia Vecchio as the first director of the new Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. She will begin her job Nov. 14.
The newly constituted department is comprised of the Nevada Commission on Tourism, Division of Museums and History, Nevada Arts Council and the Nevada Indian Commission.

NEWS RELEASE – Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has appointed Claudia Vecchio as the first director of the new Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. The Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs is comprised of the Nevada Commission on Tourism, Division of Museums and History, Nevada Arts Council, and the Nevada Indian Commission.

CARSON CITY – Brian Sandoval has made it clear in his first eight months on the job that he is going to be a “hands on” chief executive, as evidenced by decisions he has made to be personally involved on issues ranging from economic development to homeland security.

RENO - The first bear hunting season in Nevada history began Saturday with a protest and few hunters in the field.Only six hunters turned out on the opening day of the season and no bears were kill...

RENO – The two major party candidates running in the 2nd Congressional District special election to replace Dean Heller stuck to their talking points in a tame hour-long debate here today.
But the verbal jousting in front of about 150 people at the California Building in Idlewild Park still managed to illustrate the contrasts between Republican Mark Amodei and Democrat Kate Marshall.

Curator of History, Robert Nylen presents Early Frontier Baseball, at the Nevada State Museum Thursday, August 18, 2011, from 7:00 – 8:00 pm. Note: this lecture is presented one week early due to the coin show.

Visitors and locals will get a chance to experience the Old West this weekend when history comes alive in Mills Park."The Carson City Rendezvous is going to be the coolest re-enactment event eve...

Here's the latest from Friends of Black Rock Desert: This message is to let you know that we are POSTPONING the Guru Road Restoration project planned for this Saturday, April 23, to next Saturday, April 30. Because of taxes and Easter, this date just isn't working out.

One of the most colorful figures in 20th century Nevada history has to be Sen. Key Pittman, a one-time gold miner, later a U.S. Senator, where he, among other things, actually chaired the Foreign R...

By the Bureau of Land Management
A dedication of Nevada's newest state historical marker, which commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Pony Express Trail, will be on Thursday, March 31 on public land east of Fallon. The ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited.