The Friends of Sutro Tunnel Charity received a 2024 Cycle 2 award from the Nevada Energy Foundation in the amount of $5,000. The Foundation funded the Charity’s Youth Historic Restoration Service-Learning Project.
The project focuses on restoring the Carriage House carriage door as well as installing a youth designed and created history overview board on a topic related to Adolph Sutro and the Historic Sutro Tunnel and Site to be displayed in the Carriage House near the entry of the Historic Sutro Tunnel and Site.
The goals of the project include increasing public access to the Carriage House and inspiring young people to become interested in Nevada history through hands-on involvement in a restoration project. The project will conclude with a Celebration to recognize the youth and his youth group as well as Nevada Energy Foundation. Through the success of this project, the Charity hopes to involve more youth to be involved in restoration through an ongoing Living History Services Learning program and offer a NV Energy Foundation Acknowledgement scholarship for youth to participate.
Through a Scouting America Troop, the Charity recruited a 17-year-old youth to lead the project. As part of the process of earning an Eagle Scout rank, the youth has been working with his troop to finalize details. Upon approval from his council, the youth moves into the implementation phase and leads a group of fellow scouts, alongside a carpenter mentor, to build and install the carriage door based on a design approved by the Comstock Historic District.
The Friends of Sutro Tunnel Charity looks forward to this project as it involves our local youth in the preservation of their Historic Sutro Tunnel and Site property. Pamela Abercrombie, Sutro grant writer and volunteer lead said “I’m excited about this project because it will inspire youth with an interest in our rich Nevada mining history and expose them to the fun embedded in historic preservation! We are grateful to the NV Energy Foundation for their support of this project.”
By involving youth in the Sutro Tunnel Restoration, we are preserving history and building legacy — ensuring that Nevada’s mining heritage is not only remembered, but actively lived and protected. Through hands-on experiences, mentorship from skilled volunteers, and opportunities to contribute to real preservation work, young people gain a deep connection to our shared past. They carry forward the skills, pride, and sense of stewardship that will keep the story of the Sutro Tunnel alive for generations to come.
— Submitted by Helaine Jesse
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