A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-22-03....Nevada - "Battle Born"

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine, FreeTheHostages ~

It's FRiday and we hope you will join us once again as we take a cyber-tour of another state in this great Union of ours. As we present and celebrate each of our 50 states we also salute the proud FReepers who call their state 'home'. Over the coming months each "Finest" hostess will profile her own home state - I will be presenting all the others in random order. Please FReepMail me if you would like to participate in spotlighting your state. I would love to have your insight and input on what you would like to see highlighted.

To date I have presented Alabama, Maryland, Vermont and Utah, and Billie has taken us on a cyber-tour of her home state, Texas. Please join us today as we head back out west and visit "The Silver State".

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".

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....

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.

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!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-18-03...Military Monday 08-19-03...Finest Pets on Vacation 08-20-03...Freepercise 08-21-03...John's Two Cents

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[Mama_Bear]

[Mama_Bear]

FReepMail me to be added to or removed from this ping list.

[The Mayor]

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Mama.

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning you two. Happy TGIF!

[Mama_Bear]

[The Mayor]

[Aeronaut]

Nifty graphic, Mr. Mayor.

[Mama_Bear]

That's beautiful, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Makes me feel like singing. :-)

[dixie sass]

Morning Mama_Bear and everyone! Beautiful morning, isn't it y'all.

Quess what? Glenda, a friend from Therrell high school in Atlanta and I have been corresponding. I also heard from Nancy Gayle, who was the make-up person for Sr. Class play! It seems they are planning a reunion for next year! _0 years!!!!!! Sigh....


I can't believe it's been that long!!!!!

[The Mayor]

I wish I could put it to music.

Thanks it's one of my favorites.

[dixie sass]

Is that Cheese Danish I see? Ohhhhhh, I hope so. Sure would taste good with the coffee.

[Mama_Bear]

Morning Mama_Bear and everyone! Beautiful morning, isn't it y'all.

Certainly is a beautiful morning!

I have missed all of my high school reunions since I live so far away from where I graduated (Norfolk, VA), but even after all these years I am still in contact with several of my classmates. E-mail makes it so much easier to stay in touch.

[GailA]

Good Morning FRiends

[Mama_Bear]

Is that Cheese Danish I see? Ohhhhhh, I hope so. Sure would taste good with the coffee.

I'm not sure, but I just happen to have one for you fresh from the bakery. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Mornin' Gail. I NEED that coffee...the sun hasn't even come up out here yet, it's 5:30 AM!

[dixie sass]

Lol, I know what you mean. Oh, oh, I knew I was leading up to something with that post and it's this - one guy I went to school with is a poster and for the love of me I can't remember his screen name - Mountaineer or Mountain Man. Also Glenda's Aunt Linda is a poster her by I don't know her screen name.

Small world isn't it!

[dixie sass]

Ohhhhhhhhhh, Mama_Bear and it's still warm. Yummmmmm! Thank you!!!!!!!

[Mama_Bear]

and for the love of me I can't remember his screen name

Mountaineer is a poster, he was one of our "Finest" FReepers awhile back I think. He is flying the West Virginia flag on his page.

Yes, it is a small world, and computers are making it even smaller. :-)

[Billie]

Good morning! Taking advantage of a rare before 8 AM Friday morning to say hello. :)

Lori, wonderful job on the state of Nevada - love the silver belt buckle. :)

Rus, beautiful graphic!

Nice seeing your flyover again these past several days, Aeronaut. :)

Hi, dixie! So glad your computer is up and running and you've been back with us again.

Thanks for the coffee and biscuit & gravy, Gail! :)