Why Nevada Is a Great Place to Visit
The state of Nevada is well known for its gambling and silver mines. But it has a lot more to offer than that.
In a year that is shaping up to be bad for Democrats nationally, Cortez Mastro and Sisolak face tough challenges in their respective races. If that trend continues, it could cost the party its entire congressional delegation in Nevada.
History
Nevada is the second newest state and has a unique place in American history. The state is famous for its mining and has been a major player in the development of the United States as we know it. It earned its nickname, “the Battle Born State”, because of its involvement and speedy achievement of statehood during the American Civil War.
It is home to legendary figures such as Mark Twain, Howard Hughes, and Virgil and Wyatt Earp. It also is the location of many National Historic Landmarks including the Hoover Dam, the McKeen Motor Car and the Gold Rush town of Virginia City.
Ranching was a common practice in Nevada before statehood and is an important part of the area’s history. It was a way for farmers to live an outdoor life and to make money in a dry climate. However, it is important to note that early ranching was a form of subsistence farming and did not involve the full spectrum of women.
Economy
The state has a remarkably diverse economy, thanks to tourism and the entertainment industry – Las Vegas and Reno – as well as gaming. Mining, largely silver and gold, also remains important, though fewer prospectors dig against the odds to strike it rich. The desert state’s most important resource is water, but despite a growing population and expanding industry, it still lacks adequate supplies. The state is the driest in the US and has seen a growing number of severe droughts.
Brookings Mountain West and The Lincy Institute recently released a comprehensive assessment of Nevada’s economic development strategy. They recommend that state leaders direct more of its resources to workforce development in the industries of the future. For example, they should partner with the state’s three Land Grant universities to create and expand tech-oriented education programs like credentialing and boot camps. These are crucial to attracting and developing the talent that will power future innovations in Nevada.
Environment
Throughout the centuries, Nevada’s rocky landscape has been shaped by people. Native Americans left behind petroglyphs and other cultural artifacts, and mining brought in a wave of industrial development.
Today, the state is home to magnificent natural wonders, including Lake Tahoe and Red Rock Canyon, and spectacular engineering feats, like Hoover Dam. But Nevada also has a lot of work to do to preserve its environment and ensure a sustainable future.
The Center is working to ensure that renewable energy projects in Nevada are sustainable and protect sensitive species. And because more than 87 percent of the state is federal land, we are especially committed to watchdogging the development and implementation of land-management plans, to ensure that they comply with federal environmental laws. We are also focused on ensuring that climate change policies support Nevada’s tourism industry and reduce emissions that can damage the state’s critical water supplies. Across the state, summer temperatures are rising and ozone levels are increasing.
Culture
The broad, desert expanse of Nevada attracts artists of all kinds to its unfenced, anything-is-possible landscape. They paint, draw, sculpture, photograph and film the state’s wide-open spaces.
Culture in Nevada is as rich and diverse as its people. From the glitz and debauchery of Vegas to the more traditional western towns of Elko and Ely, you’ll find it all here.
UNESCO defines “culture” as the distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of a society, including its lifestyles, ways of living together, values systems and traditions. You can experience this Nevada culture for yourself from a host of different perspectives, from symphony concerts and opera performances to mural walks and powwows, from traditional Basque dance to broadway shows and month-long art festivals.
But even when Black Rock City shuts down for the summer, its spirit never really goes away. It carries on in Nevada’s countless galleries, makers’ spaces, events, schools and public art, infusing our state with its enduring energy and ideas.