From Winemucca to the Sea

Winnemucca to the Sea The Winnemucca to the Sea highway was proposed by locals and ranchers In the 1950’s thinking they needed a direct route to the sea in Crescent City. A group formed to look into the feasibility of having continuous, improved, all weather route from US40 (now I80) from Winnemucca through Medford, Oregon and on to Crescent City on the coast of California. They had hoped for a single route, highway 140 to span the full route. While that never materialized Route 140 does cover much of the route between Winnemucca and Klamath Falls, which is the route we followed. This 494 mile route to the sea begins at the corner of Winnemucca Blvd and Melarkey Street where a 1477 year old redwood log sits. It was presented to the City of Winnemucca to mark the start of the Winnemucca to the Sea Highway.Read more

150-Year-Old Locomotive Reno Returns to Virginia City

Most Famous Engine in Movie History, Star in 100+ Films The most historic existing icon of Nevada’s past, the 150-year-old Virginia & Truckee Railroad steam locomotive Reno, has made its final run full circle, returning home to Virginia City, where it originally operated from 1872 – 1938. The famous engine, featured in more than 100 Hollywood films and productions and reputed to be the most photographed locomotive in American history, has taken residence on the same tracks where it transported passengers from Reno and Carson City to Gold Hill and Virginia City on the Comstock Lode. Tom Gray, owner of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, responding to echoes from the Old West and family tradition, secured the famed No. 11 engine for Nevada posterity as the last V&T engine in private hands.Read more

Adding to Your Nevada Bookshelf

Ten years ago I wrote a piece about essential books for your Nevada Bookshelf. When I came across it recently and decided to update it, it occurred to me that because lots of likely candidates have been published in the meantime and we humans don't all share the same taste, I could ask fellow Nevada lovers for their picks. I sent a request for one, two or three favorite Nevada books to 76 people I was confident would have worthy favorites. They responded with more than 60 titles, enough to fill a whole bookcase, several of which were suggested multiple times. I should have asked for a two or three sentence description of each title and I will if I do this again in another ten years. But even without descriptors you'll recognize many of them, and if you poke around online you'll be able to find more about almost any title that looks intriguing.

150-Year-Old Locomotive Reno Returns to Virginia City

Most Famous Engine in Movie History, Star in 100+ Films The most historic existing icon of Nevada’s past, the 150-year-old Virginia & Truckee Railroad steam locomotive Reno, has made its final run full circle, returning home to Virginia City, where it originally operated from 1872 – 1938. The famous engine, featured in more than 100 Hollywood films and productions and reputed to be the most photographed locomotive in American history, has taken residence on the same tracks where it transported passengers from Reno and Carson City to Gold Hill and Virginia City on the Comstock Lode. Tom Gray, owner of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, responding to echoes from the Old West and family tradition, secured the famed No. 11 engine for Nevada posterity as the last V&T engine in private hands.