Museum welcomes groups from all over Northern Nevada Wednesday

On Wednesday, the Nevada State Museum Docent Council will welcome docent groups from 11 other Northern Nevada museums for a "tea and tour" at the Carson City museum.

At the first joint meeting of docent council members from all Northern Nevada museum staffs, the groups will pool resources and talk about common concerns.

"It's really time that the docents come together and work on some common causes," said Patricia Puchert, a retired Truckee Meadows Community College English professor who is part of the docent council.

The meeting will start with a tour of the Nevada State Museum at 1:30 p.m. Refreshments are served at around 2 p.m. Invited are members of all historical groups in Northern Nevada, including the Nevada Historical Society, Churchill County Historical Society; and docents from the Sparks museum, Mormon Station, Bowers Mansion and many more.

Puchert, who also works in the museum gift shop, says she hears many good reviews.

"People come into the gift shop after their tours and rave that it's one of the best museums in the state -- and it really is," she said.

The state museum docents are volunteers who lead guided tours. They dress in the fashion of 1864 -- the year Nevada joined the Union. The museum was a U.S. mint from 1869-1888, according to Puchert. Many of the interior features are original, including the shutters in the mint room and the wooden floors.

"The coin press is original too," she said.

Of being a docent, Puchert said, "It's absolutely rewarding. We have our own private lecture tours, our own parties, our own tours, and they are only for docents."

Once you start working with the docent council, there's no turning back, she said. "Once you're bitten by the history bug, that's the way it is."

You Can Help

To volunteer with the Nevada State Museum Docent Council, call 687-4810