History

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Stewart Indian School

The quiet campus of the Stewart Indian School stands as a memorial to a traumatic—and lingering—chapter in American history. But while the school’s early years were marked by cruelty and abuse, it ultimately transformed into a place of pride, community, and healing. Today, the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum archives the seldom-taught history behind Indian boarding schools. However, the center also lives in the present as a place of gathering that allows visitors to discover northern Nevada’s rich Native culture.
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Ghost Town Primer

Nevada is known for many things: Las Vegas, mining, and wide-open spaces, for example. While some people may be aware, it’s perhaps less known that the state is home to more ghost towns than currently populated ones. Many states have ghost towns, but here, there are more than 600 spread across the desert landscape. That figure outnumbers populated towns almost five-to-one, based on the approximately 175 zip-coded locales in the state. So just how did Nevada end up with so many places no one wanted to call home any longer? And what is a ghost town, exactly? Are there really “living” ghost towns? Read on for the answers to these questions and more.
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On The Trail of History

Nevada is a state made up of stories. For hundreds—and even thousands—of years, American Indians, emigrants, miners, and dreamers traversed Nevada’s ranges and deserts playing to the horizon and chasing dreams. In the process, they have left history that stands the test of time in the form of historical markers. The best way to discover these fascinating historical sites—around 270 total—is by incorporating them into your next road trip.
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Golden Age of Las Vegas

The Golden Age of Las Vegas—roughly 1930-1960—was a time when the city sluffed off its Wild West origins and burgeoned into the glitz and glam era it’s still known for today. The transformation began amid the Great Depression, when the construction of the Hoover Dam brought a surge of workers. The population of Vegas was around 5,000 in 1931, but after the dam was announced, it grew to about 25,000 with people coming in droves for the promise of work.  Coincidentally, Nevada passed two laws in 1931 that would forever change the way the state would attract visitors: legalized gambling and six-week divorces. In 1932—the first full year of dam construction—more than 200,000 people visited Las Vegas. Two years later, that number was a quarter of a million people. It was a sign of things to come. 
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Fast Friends

Northern Nevada has been home to a thriving Basque immigrant community for more than a century. In communities like Elko, Winnemucca, and Reno, locals and visitors frequently gather at former boarding houses and 100-year-old restaurants for a family-style meal and a potent Picon Punch cocktail. However, not all of Nevada’s Basque diaspora communities have such a long-lived tradition. 
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Dinner With a Side of History

Combine a tour of the city’s historic buildings with some of its hippest restaurants and watering holes. These establishments often boast up to a century (or more) of civic pride, but their menus keep it fresh, innovative, and mouthwatering!
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Rural Wranglers: Pioche

In the mid-1860s, stories spread of a rich silver lode in Nevada. Thousands of treasure seekers arrived from all points of the compass, and by 1870, the mining camp became one of the largest cities in the West outside of San Francisco. For years, wealth poured from its surrounding hills as if from a broken tap. When the bonanza inevitably ended, the town lived on and weathered another century and a half. Today, it is a rare living artifact of the 19th century.
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The Haunting of Lincoln Hall

Lincoln Hall is steeped in mystery, history, and tales of the unexplained. While most souls who entered this 125-year-old dormitory eventually moved on with their lives, not all did. Discover the stories of the past, and learn how you can visit one of the state's most famous university buildings.
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Las Vegas’ Westside Story

For five months in 1955, Las Vegas’ Westside District was an unlikely center of African American entertainment, culture, and optimism. The source was the city’s new Moulin Rouge Hotel, which opened at a time when racism was rampant across the nation.   
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Robbery at Rawhide

One of the West's last stagecoach robberies reads like a good heist novel: the criminal duo, the masked hold up, a posse, good old-fashioned police work, and swift justice. However, this 1907 robbery ends on a mysterious note.
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Step Into Reno’s Past

So you’re in Reno and want to get acquainted with the city: where should you start? Consider this walking tour a primer for exploring the city. Beginning next to the neon and nightlife of downtown, you’ll end your walk on a bohemian street where locals shop and dine. Along the way, discover a post office-turned-indie mall, a riverside restaurant on Reno’s most historic site, and one of the town’s earliest buildings. We begin just south of the Truckee River right after crossing the bridge on Virginia Street. 
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The Disaster at Mazuma

When a sudden cloudburst bursts over the small towns of Seven Troughs and Mazuma, residents had only seconds to evacuate out of the raging torrent. After the flood waters rushed through the canyon, a town was completely destroyed.
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A Paradise Named Galena

For outdoor recreation, Galena Creek Regional Park outside Reno is a splendid, outdoor playground that’s hard to beat during any season—but especially autumn. Moreover, Galena has a historical Nevada notch that's not so well-known.