2008: An historic year for Nevada's capital city

As close as anyone can tell, Carson City was born quietly in the summer of 1858, the vision of a group of ambitious men who looked at the sparsely populated valley and saw instead an important city with limitless potential as a commercial and political center.

A group of present-day Carson City residents aren't about to let the 150th anniversary of that founding go by quietly. The group has been planning events for months, with most of their energy directed toward a massive community block party on Aug. 16. Several downtown streets will be cordoned off for the party and shuttles will bring in people from off-site parking areas. Bands will play and historic re-enactors will be in the characters of significant historic figures from Carson City's early history. There will be a chili cook-off and coin show, tours of the Nevada State Museum and more.

"It's another milestone for us," said Mayor Marv Teixeira of the celebration. "I think what the committee has worked on so far will be fun. It will be family oriented and people are going to have a good time doing a myriad of things."

While the event may draw people from other areas, the emphasis is squarely on creating a celebration for residents of Carson City. It's a perfect opportunity for children and newcomers alike to learn about the community they live in, Teixeira said.

The committee, spearheaded by Nevada Appeal, includes elected officials, state employees, first lady Dawn Gibbons and several other residents. They hope other community groups pick up on the sesquicentennial and make it a part of their plans this year.

"What we really want to do is honor Carson City's past by pulling the community together using the strength of the newspaper, all of the events already going on throughout the year and the Nevada State Museum," said Lynette Cameron, regional marketing director for Sierra Nevada Media Group, which includes the Appeal. In addition to a weekly page on Carson City's history, the Appeal will be printing a commemorative historical edition prior to the block party.

The Appeal also commissioned a logo and slogan contest among its staff. The winning logo chosen by the committee, was designed by Mary Weaver and the winning slogan, "Rich in history, true in character," was written by Rob Galloway.

They can be seen on page C3 of today's paper. The logo, which is available for use by groups planning celebrations this year, will be on one side of a special commemorative medallion to be minted at the museum to mark the celebration.

Weaver said she made sure to incorporate the Capitol dome and the V & T Railroad in her logo, emphasizing a design that represented this city's historical past, yet showed the continued movement toward the future.

Art for another medallion will be the subject of a school art contest.

The Nevada State Museum will be one of the focal points of the celebration throughout the year, said Robert Nylen, the museum's curator of history. It will be printing a pictorial history of the city later this year, and will hold displays and events throughout the year. They include a lecture by Guy Rocha on Tuesday to kick off the sesquicentennial. Nylen will give a presentation April 22 on Abraham Curry, one of the city's founders, and later in the year, Chris Bayer, a local author, will give a presentation on another figure vital to Carson City's formation, William Ormsby.

Already, some groups and individuals have begun sesquicentennial events.

"Willow Bill" Goulardt, for example, has coordinated a treasure hunt with businesses around the community. The 15 willow branch hearts around the city each hold a photo of a person important to the city's history.

Some events previously planned fit the theme perfectly. Among them is the Railroad Reflections International Art Show. The new show ties together two of the city's greatest assets ... its extensive arts community and its rich history.

The official date set for Carson City's birthday is Aug. 12 " the day the deed was signed transferring Eagle Ranch from J.B. Mankins to the founders of the city " but since that falls on a Tuesday this year, the committee set the big celebration for the following weekend.

State Archivist Guy Rocha said there's no smoking gun " no journal or newspaper accounts " identifying the specific day Carson City was formed, but the Aug. 12 date the deed was signed will be close. Rocha said from August to September 1858 the area had been surveyed and there was construction going on.

"We know by early September the new community in Eagle Valley was being called Carson City," he said.

There may be more clues to the city's history out there. Rocha and others are always looking for more evidence, often in old newspapers elsewhere. Another goal will be to find a photograph of Benjamin Green, one of the four founders of the city. The Nevada State Museum has photos of the other three, (see page C3) but not Green.

For now, the sesquicentennial committee, which includes Rocha and Nylen, is continuing planning the details of the block party.

Candy Duncan, executive director of the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a member of the sesquicentennial planning committee, said while she intends to make sure that party and all sesquicentennial events are on tourism calendars, this is more of a local celebration.

"I think it's important for the community," Duncan said. "I think these kinds of celebrations can be historic."

- Barry Ginter is editor of the Appeal can be reached at bginter@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1221.