New exhibit openings highlight Nevada's rich cultural legacy

Several new exhibits in museums around the state reflect Nevada's rich cultural and natural heritage. They cover such diverse subjects as contemporary basketmaking, the renaissance of mining in the early 20th century, Nevada's First Ladies, and spectacular celestial events as seen through the eye of the photographer.

The Nevada Historical Society in Reno debuted a new exhibit July 15. A Show of Hands features work by members of the Great Basin Basketmakers, one of the most active basket guilds in the nation. While the baskets are modern creations, many are strongly influenced by Native American traditions. On Wednesday, basketmaker Vickie Johnson will teach a morning hands-on class for children age eight and up. Pre-registration is required. For details, call 775-688-1190. The Nevada Historical Society is located at 1650 N. Virginia Street in Reno. A Show of Hands runs through Sept. 30.

The new exhibit at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City explores the revival of mining in Nevada in the early 20th century. With the discovery of gold and silver at Tonopah in 1900 and at Goldfield in 1902, the state pulled its way out of a 20-year depression caused by the closing of most Comstock Lode mines in the late 1870s. Through the photographer's lens and the cartoonist's pen, Beyond Tonopah examines the new strikes in the middle of the state that had prospectors and investors once again on the trail of buried riches.

The exhibit runs through next April. For details, please call 775-687-4810. The Nevada State Museum is located at 600 N. Carson Street in Carson City.

In Las Vegas, a tribute to Nevada's First Ladies takes place at the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society. Silver Ladies in Golden Splendor traces the role of the governors' wives from 1864 to today. The exhibit includes photographs, biographies and 10 inaugural ball gowns, reflecting the fashions of the last 50 years. The display also includes the 1904 wedding gown worn by Julia McCann Scrugham, first lady from 1923 to 1926, before inaugural balls were the norm. The exhibit runs through Sept. 4. When not on display, the clothing is housed at the Marjorie Russell Clothing and Textile Research Center in Carson City, a facility open to the public by appointment.

Also on display at the Las Vegas facility is a new photography exhibit. Exploring the Night Sky Over Southern Nevada features work by John H. Mowbray, a photographer and astronomer who has captured on film some of the more spectacular celestial events seen in recent years. He documented such key events as the comet Hale-Bopp, the near conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in 1999, the planet Mercury during a grazing transit of the sun (the first such occurrence since the invention of the telescope), the last solar eclipse of the 20th century in May of 1994, and the first lunar eclipse of the year. According to Mowbray, the arid desert outside of Las Vegas at night is well suited to observing and photographing the wonders of space. The exhibit runs through December. The Nevada State Museum and Historical Society is located at 700 Twin Lakes Drive on the west side of Lorenzi Park in Las Vegas. For information, please call 702-486-5205.

All of the museums listed above are operated by the Nevada Department of Museums, Library, and Arts, which also includes the Office of Historic Preservation, State Library and Archives and Nevada Arts Council. We serve Nevada's citizens and visitors through cultural and information management, preservation and promotion of cultural resources, and education. For details about any of our offerings, please visit our Web site at http://dmla.clan.nv.us, or contact the public information office at 775-687-8323, e-mail gbclancy@clan.lib.nv.us.

Gwendolyn Clancy is the public information officer for the Nevada Dept. of Museums, Library and Arts.