Rick Gunn/Nevada Appeal Jan Loverin, state museum curator of clothing and textiles, prepares a variety of vintage dresses for the upcoming show of first ladies' gowns at the Governor's Mansion.
Several gowns worn by Nevada's first ladies will be on display during the Tin Cup Tea and Chuck Wagon Barbecue, a fund-raiser for the Nevada State Museum and the Keck Museum.
Gowns worn by current first lady Dema Guinn will be among them, along with a silver choker necklace she designed.
"It's her own, personal jewelry, but she's donated it to this benefit cause," said Deborah Stevenson of the state museum.
The necklace features a solid silver medallion with the state seal on one side and Gov. Kenny Guinn on the other.
Mrs. Guinn started the tea to support the museums.
"Both of these cultural institutions play an important role in preserving Nevada's heritage," she said. "The funds raised by the Tin Cup Tea allow for programming and operational improvements that could not happen without our support."
Th event is 6-10 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Governor's Mansion, 606 N. Mountain St. Tickets are $45.
The evening has a Western theme, with historic buggies and wagons on display and New York steak or chicken on the grill. Entertainment is by David John and the Comstock Cowboys and Guns and Gals of Virginia City.
Tours of the Governor's Mansion will include the Mackay Tiffany silver, wagons and buggies, and Nevada mineral and fossil specimens.
A silent auction will offer an overnight stay at a bed-and-breakfast in Paradise Valley; baskets from the Wildhorse Ranch with robes, champagne, champagne flutes and scented massage oils; a limited-edition print by Steven Saylor of the watercolor "Lonesome at the Paradise"; items from William Fur and Leather in Reno; a quartz crystal mineral specimen donated by Luella Margrave and an overnight stay at Squaw Creek.
"So quite a lot of variety," said Stevenson.
All proceeds will be donated to the Nevada State Museum and the W.M. Keck Earth Science and Mineral Engineering Museum in the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno.
For information, call 687-4810, ext. 237
Contact Karl Horeis at khoreis@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.