In 1848 the United States acquired the land that was to become Nevada in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and on October 31st 1864 - Nevada became our 36th state. Since this was the time of the Civil War the state motto of "Battle Born" was adopted. The Union needed the minerals which were abundant in the state. As far back as 1857 many names were used to refer to the area that became Nevada, IE: Sierra Nevada Territory; Washoe Territory; Carson Territory; Eastern Slope; Humboldt; Esmeralda; Sierra Plata; Oro Plata and Bullion. But in 1864 the land emerged as "Nevada" a Spanish word meaning snow-covered. Nevada is also known as "The Sagebrush State".
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C'mon along, let's explore old Nevada...
What I find most interesting about presenting the western states here at the 'Finest' is the history and lore of the "wild west". There is a certain mystique about the desert and the rugged men and women who trekked across this barren land searching for gold, silver, religious freedom, or the elusive "land of milk and honey" that promised to be just over the horizon.
(If you aren't into exploring and want to head straight for the casinos, scroll down. We'll catch up with you. (Just leave your cash and credit cards with me.) ;-)
Hardships and Tragedy
The stories recorded about the early pioneers and explorers of what is now the state of Nevada; Jedediah Smith, Captain John Freemont, Christopher "Kit" Carson, Antonio Armijo, and Joseph Walker, are fascinating studies in survival and fortitude. As history records, one of the most tragic incidents that took place during the migration west was in 1846 when the Donner-Reed Party, an ill-advised group of emigrants delayed their journey too long in the Truckee Meadows near the present-day City of Reno, Nevada. They subsequently became trapped in the heavy snows of the Sierra Nevada when they attempted to follow the "Hastings Cutoff" through the mountains into California. 47 out of 87 perished.
The Gold Rush
It is estimated that 22,500 settlers passed through the Truckee Meadows in 1849, then 45,000 in 1850 and up to 52,000 in 1852. Gold and silver prospectors began combing the barren lands of Northern Nevada. Towns began springing over night along the prospectors trails, many becoming ghost towns as the mines dried up. One of the most colorful towns to spring up during this time was Virginia City, made famous in recent years by the long running "Bonanza" TV show.
Virginia City and the Comstock Lode still maintain the flavor of the highfalutin mining days, when Mark Twain roamed the streets and everybody wanted a piece of the "Richest Place on Earth."
Carson City
Carson City was confirmed as Nevada's permanent capital with statehood in 1864, and development thereafter was no longer completely dependent on the health of the Comstock mines. Until they began to decline in the 1880s, these mines provided Carson City with most of its economic importance as a freight and staging center, and as a marshalling point for much of the timber harvest in the Lake Tahoe basin.
That was Nevada THEN,
this is Nevada NOW....
 
 
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Now that we have had our brief history lesson for the day, let's hop in our limo and see the sights in Las Vegas.....
Casinos, casinos....EVERYWHERE!
From the tacky and garish to the truly elegant, one hotel casino after another lines the Las Vegas strip. There is no place on earth like it!
  
If you aren't into gambling you can surely find a pool to suit you. The Las Vegas hotels have some of the most beautiful pools in the world!
Or, there is always golf...
Before we leave Las Vegas...
An interesting bit of trivia.....The first mechanical slot machine, the Liberty Bell, was invented in 1895 by Charles Fey, a San Francisco mechanic. Fey's machine housed three spinning reels, each decorated with diamonds, spades, hearts and one cracked Liberty Bell per reel. When the bells lined up, they produced your biggest payoff: 10 nickels. The original Liberty Bell slot machine can be seen at the Liberty Belle Saloon & Restaurant in Reno.
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Thank you to the following websites for
historical information and graphics....
"The Big Bonanza"
"Nevada's Past - A History Timeline"
I hope this quick trip through Nevada has been as interesting for you as it has for me. I also hope that I have presented a "Nevada" that is much more than neon lights and one-armed bandits. From the breathtaking grandeur of Lake Tahoe to the Pioneer and Las Vegas Territories in the south, Nevada is a state with beautiful parks and recreation....something for everyone.
Thank you for joining us today,
have a nice FRiday!
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