Historic Preservation Month ends with scavenger hunt

Historic Preservation Month ends today in Carson City, following an announcement Thursday of the winners in Carson City’s latest architectural scavenger hunt.

Mayor Robert Crowell on May 2 issued a proclamation calling on city residents to join others across the nation in participating in the annual observance, which in Nevada’s capital city includes a scavenger hunt for architectural details in the community’s historic district. The contest ran through Wednesday.

Bonnie and Kiyoshi Nishikawa of Carson City were among 16 adult entrants who managed to identify all of the architectural features they searched for accurately. The Nishikawas then were chosen as the ultimate winning pair by having their successful entry drawn from a jar, leaving the other 15 successful sleuths in second place. Twenty six adults entered the contest.

Janice Brod, grants program coordinator with the Carson City Planning Division, oversaw the selection process Thursday. She said there was one entry in the children’s division and he was declared winner by virtue of finding all but three of the architectural features in the contest. He is William Hoffecker, also of Carson City.

The Historic Resources Commission sponsored the free scavenger hunt, providing players with a packet of pictures of details on buildings in the historic district on the city’s west side. Items such as doors, fences, decorative pillars, bay windows and stonework were in the packet, and contestants went through the district to find them. The adult packets included 30 items to find; the children’s packet had 20.

The hunt was conceived in prior years by the commission in a bid to heighten awareness of historic buildings. This year’s adult winners will receive dinner for two at Adele’s Restaurant; the children’s prize is a gift certificate for Brugo’s Pizza.

The mayor’s proclamation earlier in the month said historic preservation is an effective tool for managing growth and sustainable development, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride, maintaining community character and enhancing community livability. It also noted the theme of the National Preservation Month this year was “See it. Save it. Celebrate it.”