New exhibits at museum

We state in our closing paragraph that we do not receive any regular state of county funding. Despite that and thanks to your support, the Douglas County Historical Society is installing two incredible new exhibits in the main gallery of the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center.

The first is a free-standing exhibit featuring seven new glass cases depicting the founding of Carson Valley. One speaks about the first inhabitants, the Washo people. The next speaks about the trappers and trailblazers, including the Mormon settlers and explorer John C. Fremont. There are cases describing the first settlements; ranching, and mining and logging as towns like Virginia City needed all kinds of supplies.

The last case describes the process of Nevada statehood which was achieved on October 31, 1864. Nevada was the 36th state and entered the union under President Abraham Lincoln. A copy of his letter to the anxiously awaiting Nevada state government is included in the exhibit.

Tying all this together pictorially is a new mural. The Trail to the Promised Land of California mural shows the trail as it progressed through Carson Valley. It depicts the eastern slope of the Sierra, Carson Valley along the Emigrant and Pony Express trails, the historic trading posts, early settlements and first ranches. Given the desert behind the emigrants and the mountains before them, our valley was an oasis offering respite.

The exhibit cases are all in place and the mural will be completed very soon. Look for an open house reception to celebrate these two outstanding commemoratives of our history sometime in September. Recognition and thanks for many hours of work go to artist Beverly Caputo and our own exhibit committee, Betty Cordes, Laurie Hickey, E-Ann Logan and Irene Marshall.

The August photo contest ends at 4 p.m. Saturday. We need entries or we can't complete the 2009 DCHS calendar. Grab your digital camera and head out to snap a shot of whatever you see that makes you think of August in Douglas County. E-mail it or bring a print copy into the museum by tomorrow. We'll announce the winner next week.

Don't forget Student-Senior Day on Sept. 2 with Bob Moore and his mustang, Casey. This is a great opportunity to meet a mustang up close and personal, as they say. Also, the lecture series for September will be Sept. 11 with Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs Director Michael Fischer portraying John Sparks.

If you have any questions about anything mentioned here, please call the Douglas County Historical Society at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville at 782-2555 or go to www.historicnevada.org.

Remember, DCHS and its two museums do not receive any regular state or county funding. It's up to our members and friends to help us keep our doors open.

n Contact Ellen Caywood at in2my2cats@yahoo.com or 790-1565.