Our Nevada Stories

For over a century and a half, Nevada has enjoyed a strange reputation. Mark Twain’s frontier descriptions of Virginia City in Roughing It captivated audiences across the country, and quaints from his roommate Dan DeQuille like “The Traveling Stones of Pahranagat Valley” went the 19th century version of viral in newspapers around the world. In old Hollywood films, “Going to Reno” was shorthand for...

Since Nevada’s founding in 1864, many interesting people have called this place home. People of all backgrounds, creeds, ethnicities and beliefs, and people with different motivations for being here. From the Indigenous Shoshone, Northern Paiute, Southern Paiute and Washoe, to prospectors and pioneers, to rail workers, entertainers, divorcees, explorers, cowboys, and countless more. Nevada is a pl...

Nevada’s story of becoming a state is unique. The state constitution needed to arrive in Washington DC in time for the state to participate in the 1864 election. When the couriers carrying the constitution weren’t going to make it in time, it was decided to telegraph the constitution from Carson City to Washington DC. And ever since then Nevada and its people have adapted to all types of new circu...

Mining, Ranching and Nevada's Public Lands. •••   Over 80% of Nevada is public lands, the highest in the country. Some of that is managed by the US Forest Service and Nevada State Parks, but most of it is managed by the US Bureau of Land Management. Public lands allow for all types of uses, from camping, off-roading, over-landing, hot spring hunting, rock hounding and pretty much anything else you...

Nevada's Gaming and Urban Stories One interesting fact about Nevada is that it’s the most urban state in America. Even though it’s made of huge tracts of open land, a huge percentage of the population lives in two metropolitan areas: Reno and Las Vegas. The history of these two cities is very different, but each of their stories – being in the state of Nevada – has been intertwined with the pr...

There is no single way to become a Nevadan, so today we’ll hear from some folks who have found their own path into it. ••• Our Nevada Stories is hosted by State Folklorist Brad McMullen. This podcast is part of America 250 Nevada, celebrating the voices of this place. For more information, visit https://www.america250nevada.org, and for future episodes subscribe to Our Nevada Stories on your podca...

Introducing "Our Nevada Stories" - part of America 250 Nevada. A podcast exploring the Silver State through storytelling and oral history. Hosted by State Folklorist Brad McMullen.