Historic and archaeological treasures abound in Nevada

CARSON CITY, NV – Since the early 1980s, May has been a month for celebrating historic preservation and archaeology in Nevada. This May, the Nevada Department of Conservation & Natural Resources’ State Historic Preservation Office encourages Nevadans to explore and discover the amazing historic and archeological resources that exist throughout the State.  Our towns teem with artifacts that tell the story of Nevada - from the stone remains of the 1860’s Cold Springs Pony Express Station near Austin, to the ghost town of Berlin, where the bones of Ichthyosaurs, giant reptiles that swam in a warm ocean that covered central Nevada 225 million years ago, remain to be seen by all.

Community activities include:

Carson City Historic Resource Commission’s 10th Annual Scavenger Hunt. This year’s hunt focuses on the history and culture of Carson City. A family friendly event, participants will be given clues about people, places and events that are important to the community’s history. Using the clues, participants will research and locate the answers. Completed answers are due by 3:00 p.m., May 31. For more information, call 775-283-7922.
Boulder City Historic Preservation Day is Saturday, May 11.  A variety of art contests, presentation, tours and parades are scheduled at different locations in Boulder City throughout the day. For more information, call 702-293-9282.

May is also an excellent time of year to visit historic Nevada State Parks, including:

Ward Charcoal Ovens – Built in the 1870s, the park’s ovens are some of the best preserved kilns in the United States. Created to support mining, they later sheltered travelers and had a reputation as a hideout for stagecoach bandits.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort – More than 150 years ago, a spring-fed creek flowed through the Las Vegas Valley, creating an oasis in the desert where Mormon missionaries built an adobe fort. Today the park includes a remnant of the original fort that is used to display historic artifacts.
Fort Churchill – An Army post built in 1861, Fort Churchill helped guard the Pony Express route and acted as a base for hundreds of soldiers. Visitors today can walk designated trails to study the ruins, and can camp, picnic and enjoy fishing and swimming in the Carson River.
Spring Mountain Ranch – The first working ranch in the Las Vegas Valley, and once a luxurious retreat for millionaire Howard Hughes, the ranch features historic buildings, hiking and large, lush lawns on which to picnic and play.

Visitors are always welcome on the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office’s website, shpo.nv.org. Learn about the 266 historical roadside markers throughout the State that bring attention to Nevada’s heritage. Or, peruse the list of State and National Registers of Historic places, to explore Nevada’s historic places and why they matter.