Nevada's Sesquicentennial Celebration

Brian Krolicki and Brian Sandoval in Carson City.

Earlier today, Governor Brian Sandoval and Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki held a press conference after arriving by steam locomotive at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City. The governors addressed the celebration of Nevada's sesquicentennial, the unveiling of the Nevada Commission on Tourism's 2013 Discover Your Nevada campaign, and some important news about Nevada's state museums.

Governor Sandoval announced that many of Nevada's museums are upgrading, and all will expand their hours and days of operation. In celebration of the expanded museum operations, all seven Nevada state museums are offering two free admission days.

The free admission days are scheduled for July 6 and 20 and feature special programs, new exhibits, and unique opportunities. The Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City is offering half-price train fares. The Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson city is celebrating Independence Day July 4-7 and offering special outdoor locomotive displays and a chance to ride on a train pulled by the Virginia & Truckee (V&T) locomotive No. 25.

As part of the Discover Your Nevada campaign, the Nevada Commission on Tourism announced that beginning today, July 3, people can vote for their favorite activity, experience, or event in the state. Whichever activity, experience, or event gets the most votes will receive a plaque, a mention in a future issue of Nevada Magazine, and much more. Details can be found at travelnevada.com/discover, and by clicking on the Discover Your Nevada graphic below.

With Nevada's quickly approaching sesquicentennial, the governors announced the launch of the Nevada 150 campaign. With 150 events planned during the sesquicentennial year, the Nevada 150 campaign plans to "promote the independent spirit of Nevada through education, tourism, and history."

In lieu of the sesquicentennial, Governor Sandoval signed a law which authorizes sale of a special Nevada 150 license plate, which will be available for purchase through the DMV starting late July. Revenues from the Nevada 150 license plates will support projects and events related to the year-long Nevada 150 celebration.

Cactus Air Force Plans New Aviation Museum

A Cessna T-41B idles on the runway at the Carson City Airport.

BY ERIC CACHINERO

Cactus Air Force—a privately owned and operated military aircraft and vehicle restoration organization—recently invited me to check out what they do best: fly vintage military airplanes. Dedicated to preserving, restoring, and educating the public on aviation and military history, Cactus Air Force is making strides toward improving the longevity of vintage aircraft in Nevada.

I'll admit I'm not the most comfortable person around airplanes and was hesitant when I received the offer. However, after mustering up the courage to fly "into the danger zone," I walked away from my flight with an enhanced knowledge and a new appreciation for aviation.

Doug Thorngren, director of public relations and operations and pilot at Cactus Air Force, took me for a spin in the skies above Carson City in his Cessna T-41B. The day was windy, and the turbulence had me gripping my handle firmly, but focusing on the view of the capital city from this vintage military aircraft did well to calm my nerves. After about 30 minutes in the air I saw how easy it was to fall in love with these beautiful machines.

Piloting aircraft since he was 18, Thorngren understands the necessity to get kids involved in aviation at a young age. To reach this goal, the Cactus Air Force is teaming up with the Carson City Airport Authority to open the Wings and Wheels Museum, a public museum dedicated to U.S. military aircraft and vehicles built since WWII. The 12,000-square-foot museum will include a number of indoor exhibits, as well as a large outdoor tarmac area with aircraft and vehicle displays.

“We just really want to be good stewards and educate people about aviation,” Thorngren says. “We hope to accomplish that by building this educational museum.” The museum, set to open in fall 2013, gives visitors a chance to see decades' worth of military aviation history up close.

Nevada Northern Railway Museum Auction

Lucky Bids Will Save the Green: Now through March 18

ELY — Make your dreams come true and "Save the Green" at the Nevada Northern Railway Museum’s first online auction, now through March 18.

Top-of-the line offerings include the rare opportunity to "Be the Engineer" and drive a locomotive with the train (freight cars) attached. Opening bids start at up to 55 percent off the regular price.

You don’t need to go over the rainbow to make dreams come true or find your pot of gold. The auction makes it easy to sit comfortably in your home or office or anywhere you have internet access. Your luck’s in store online, and shopping is just a click away at the Nevada Northern Railway website or directly at biddingforgood.com/nevadanorthernrailway.

Bid on such items as Spending a Night at the Museum with the Bunkhouse Overnights; Railroad Reality Week Experiences; Winter Steam Photo Shoots; Rides with the Engineer; Haunted Ghost Trains; Polar Express; and steamin' dinner trains. These include the Rockin' & Rollin' Geology Trains, Wild West Trains, the brand new Restoration Rails Trains, and the Steptoe Valley Flyer Heritage Trains. More than $80,000 worth of Nevada Northern dream items is up for bid — at a fraction of regular prices.

Ely was recently named one of "America's best small town comebacks" by CNN. Read the story here.

What Are Your Nevada Bests?

Do you have a favorite hotel, restaurant, show, or event in Nevada? How about a museum, ski resort, state park, or place to take the kids? You can cast your vote in these categories and more in Nevada Magazine's 2013 Best of Nevada survey now through Friday, April 19.

Not only is it a great opportunity to support your favorite attractions and businesses, one lucky voter will win a Reno travel package, including two nights accommodations at Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno, dinner at Roxy, show tickets at Eldorado Showroom, plus a round of golf at Wildcreek Golf Course in Sparks (all prize packages are for two people). Vote now at NevadaMagazine.com!

See past Best of Nevada winners here.

In Nevada Magazine's March/April 2013 issue

Photo by Skip Reeves
State Route 722

Nevada Magazine's current issue features two centennial celebrations — the Lincoln Highway in Nevada and the Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, about 40 miles southwest of Las Vegas. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Highway, and you can still drive on original sections of it in the Silver State. Also, towns along U.S. Highway 50 will be celebrating the centennial during select dates in June.

The Pioneer Saloon, the subject of this issue's History story, was built by Clark County commissioner George Fayle in 1913, when the mill town was enjoying its boom years. One hundred years later, the Pioneer Saloon is still standing…and still serving. It contains a Memorial Room in honor of actress Carole Lombard, who died in 1942 as a result of a plane crash on nearby Mount Potosi. Her husband, actor Clark Gable, spent time at the saloon while awaiting news of Lombard's fate. 

The issue also features Nevada’s array of professional and collegiate sporting events that promise to keep residents and tourists entertained without breaking the bank — whether you’re root-root-rooting for the home team at a Las Vegas 51s or Reno Aces Triple-A baseball game, hitting the hardwood with the Reno Bighorns basketball team, or annoying everyone in earshot with your vuvuzela at a Las Vegas Legends soccer match. The story also covers hockey, bowling, collegiate sports, golf, and motorsports.

Also in the issue are stories about prospecting for gold and other minerals in Nevada, Thunder Mountain Indian Monument in Imlay, Las Vegas Distillery, Boyz II Men's new headliner show at The Mirage, and a Q&A with Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority President and CEO Chris Baum about Reno's new slogan, "All Seasons—1,000 Reasons."

Nevada Magazine is offering a free trial version of the digital edition of its current March/April 2013 issue, available here.

Nevada Northern Railway offers photo scholarship

Photo: Matthew B. Brown

TRAINS Magazine and Ely's Nevada Northern Railway Museum are offering a special Steam, Steel, and Strobes Scholarship to attend the historic railroad’s annual Winter Steam Spectacular Photo Shoots. The free contest is open to anyone age 18-30. There are two opportunities available—February 3-5 and 10-12. An individual will be selected for both events.

The photographer selected will receive a Photo Shoot Scholarship and a $500 stipend, which can be used for travel to Ely. He or she will work with professional photographer Steve Crise during the February 2012 events.

To apply for the scholarship, applicants must e-mail a proposal of no more than 250 words along with three (3) low-resolution images to TRAINS Editor Jim Wrinn at editor@trainmag.com. Entries must be received by Dec 31, 2011.

The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is located roughly halfway between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Steve Crise: http://www.scrise.com
Nevada Northern Railway Museum: http://www.nnry.com
Trains Magazine: http://www.trains.com