Museum concourse project dedicated to Dema Guinn

The concourse project uniting the three Nevada State Museum buildings on North Carson Street was formally opened Friday - and named for former first lady Dema Guinn.

Mike Fischer, director of Cultural Affairs, told a crowd of nearly 100 who turned out they chose to honor Mrs. Guinn because of her long-standing support for culture, the arts and history, "best exemplified by the Tin Cup Tea."

Fischer said the Tin Cup Tea created by Guinn in 2000 has raised more than $460,000 over the years to support the museum and preserve Nevada's heritage while educating residents, children and tourists.

He said she also was responsible for the drive to create and place a statue of Sarah Winnemucca in the U.S. Capitol and the Nevada State Capitol and has raised money for numerous other projects and causes associated with the Department of Cultural Affairs.

"She honors us with her dedication and commitment," he said.

The glass and steel concourse is intended as a modern take on the headframes which were erected to lower people and equipment into mines on the Comstock 100 years ago.

The $3.2-million project provides, for the first time, disabled access to the underground mine exhibit - one of the premier attractions at the museum. It also provides the museum with a proper entrance for visitors, a lobby and space to display large artifacts such as the Basque sheepherder's wagon or even the massive woolly mammoth skeleton on display on the second floor.