Explore Dayton history on new walking tour

We have a new comprehensive walking tour brochure at the Dayton Museum. It tells you about things you should know (but were afraid to ask) about Dayton. It highlights all the points of interest in and around Dayton. It gives you a thumbnail sketch of all the important history of Dayton. We are pleased to have something to give our visitors to identify the various historical locations in the area.

If you would like a more comprehensive history we have the Fanny Hazlett History of Dayton book for sale at the museum. Both are educational guides of our historic area. It's a book I refer to often to verify the history. We are so lucky to have had a couple of folks who wrote journals and diaries who lived in Dayton.

The new walking tour has 33 sites identified as points of interest. A bonus to the interesting history is the excellent restaurants you will find in Old Town Dayton. The restaurants are housed in the historic building of Dayton and all are known to serve excellent meals.

All of the business sites in Dayton appreciate your patronage. It's saving the old buildings by keeping them occupied. The owners have done a wonderful job of restoring these buildings. The old buildings seem to fare better when people really care for them. A lot of old towns in the west became T-shirt shopping area, but it's better than letting them fall down for lack of upkeep.

It's hard to make a living in the old ghost towns, but if people care enough, they do survive. It's our hope that everyone in Dayton works to keep the old town alive and well. We are where it all started in the state of Nevada with the discovery of gold in Gold Canyon Creek. That discovery led to the now famous Comstock area of Virginia City. Dayton is in the Comstock Historic District.

Since prices of everything have gone out of sight, Dayton is a great place to explore, because it's within a reasonable distance to travel. While you are here you can have lunch or dinner at one of our good restaurants. There is a wide variety of choices. At the Dayton Museum, you will find people who are knowledgeable in the history of Dayton. They will take you on a trip through time back to the way it was.

The group of docents at the Dayton Museum are dedicated to the history of Dayton. They want to tell the public all about the interesting happenings that made Dayton the unique area it is. There is more history here than meets the eye. Some of the old timers in the area have been keeping history alive when they give talks at our Saturday morning lectures at the museum. We suspended the lectures in the summer as most of our docents are away on vacation. Make a point to put Dayton on your "must see" list!

The Historical Society of Dayton Valley has a new meeting time and location. New time: 12:30 - 1:45 p.m. New Location: Lyon County Library - Dayton Branch Conference Room; 321 Old Dayton Valley Road. We will continue to meet there the third Wednesday each month. All are welcome.

The Dayton Museum is located on Shady Lane and Logan in Old Town Dayton. Hours: Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 1-4 p.m. The Web site is: daytonnvhistory.org. Group tours are available. Call 246-5543, 246-8382 or 246-0441.

- Ruby McFarland has lived in Dayton since October 1987, she serves as a board member of the Dayton historical society and a docent at the museum.