Historic artifacts on display in Silver City through May 27

A May 2016 display in Silver City marks Nevada’s annual, statewide celebration of “Historic Preservation and Archaeological Awareness.” Located on the Comstock a few miles south of Virginia City within a National Historic Landmark, the tiny community of Silver City has a reputation for protecting the sites involved in its historic past, and for contributing to the creation of both art and cultural resources.

The display at the Silver City Post Office is titled, “Silver City, Nevada: Preserving a Fascinating History; Protecting a Vibrant Present and Future.” Silver City combines a dedication for preserving its historic and archaeological sites and artifacts with enthusiasm for protecting its present day character as an arts and cultural resources production center. The display will illuminate these two intertwined parts of the community using rarely seen artifacts from Silver City’s early days, as well as examples of some of the historical and archaeological research, plus plays, art, diverse publications, and music that a new wave of residents have produced over the last 50 years.

The historical artifacts on display — including a Chinese coin, a shoe, ink wells, a mining gauge, etc. — date from roughly 1860 to about 1900. They’re among thousands of items discovered at an archaeological dig at the site of the original Silver City School House. In 2007, Silver City residents were rewarded for their work on the archaeological dig with a historic preservation award from the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office. The award honored the lead archaeologist for the project, long time Silver City resident Ron Reno, Ph.D., and the entire town of Silver City for their retrieval of thousands of artifacts associated with the remains of the 1860s school house.

Although Silver City has roots in the underground mining boom of the 1860s, by the 1950s the town had become a quiet place, a curiosity for passing tourists who saw it as a ghost town. A shift began in the mid 1960s, however, with the arrival of a new wave of residents, and the town’s “cultural re-population” continued for the next five decades.

The community of less than 200 people produced a remarkable body of work during the last 50 years that has had a demonstrably positive impact on the town, the state and beyond. Residents have contributed their diverse talents and skills to produce regionally and nationally recognized work in archaeology; visual art; theater; music; historic preservation; and academic research and projects resulting in technical reports and a wide range of other publications. Many created hand-crafted items in silver, wood, gemstones, clay, etc. and examples can be found in diverse places, from the Smithsonian American Art Museum to the region’s historic cemeteries, homes and buildings.

Accordingly, in 2014 the Silver City Advisory Board resolved to recognize the existing character of Silver City as an “Arts and Cultural Resources Production Center”, and formally recognized the considerable work residents have contributed and continue to contribute to the production of important work in the areas of arts and cultural resources.

The Board also formally recognized the extraordinary support the entire community has given and continues to give to local arts and cultural resources production, events, and programming. Today the town has active arts and preservation groups, plus a resident artist program and a summer arts and science program. In July 2016, the town will welcome a new outdoor performance stage in the local park so that even more public programming in music and theater can be offered.

The display of historic artifacts (1860-1900) and arts and cultural resources (1965-2016) is sponsored by the Resident Artist Program of Silver City, with special thanks to Ron Reno, PhD, and to the Comstock History Center for the loan of Silver City artifacts.

The display is at the Silver City Post Office, 270 Main Street, Silver City, through May 27.