There is a reason they call it Great! —-Its loneliness and wide open spaces appeal to the special few.

February board meeting to be held in Delta Volume 2 Issue 4

The Great Basin National Heritage Part- will entertain a discussion about partner- nership will be holding its regular winter ing with various local organizations for December 2010 Board meeting on Saturday February 26, the preservation and interpretation of 2011 in Delta, Utah. The meeting will archaeological, historical, cultural, natu- begin at 10:00 am MST. ral, scenic and recreational heritage re- Meet Some of Our sources of the Great Basin Natural Heri- Stakeholders: tage Area. The Great Basin National The meeting is held in conjunction with Great Basin National the Piece in the Valley’s 9th Annual Heritage Area includes White Pine Park— Baker, NV Quilt Show and with the annual Snow County in Nevada, Millard County in Utah and adjacent tribal lands. Goose Festival in Delta, Utah. White Pine Chamber of

Commerce During the business meeting, the Board As always, the public is invited and will be offered an opportunity to comment. Duckwater Shoshone Tribe

McGill Drugstore Museum Heritage Area partners with railroad museum Great Basin Museum In September the Great Basin National For some time the Partnership has Heritage Partnership and the White been searching for a substantial pro- Millard County Commission Pine Railroad Foundation signed a joint gram in White Pine County, Nevada (as agreement that will help the partner- well as one in Millard County, Utah, Great Basin Institute ship in its goal to interpret and pro- and one on adjacent tribal lands) that Daughters of Utah Pioneers, mote significant area historical, cul- will give it a foothold in the region with Millard West Company tural, scenic and recreational resources respect to educational and interpretive while helping the Foundation in its role heritage programming. At the same to restore, and operate and interpret time, the Railroad Foundation had an the Nevada Northern Railway. Inside This Issue …..NNRy Continued on Page 4 President’s Report 2 The Northern Nevada Railway operates demonstration steam trains cur- rently using the two vintage rail coaches shown below. The Partnership will fund restoration of the couplings on the cars allowing the White Pine Nevada 3 Railroad Foundation to increase interpretation. Tourism Grants

GBNHA 3 News Shorts

Goose and Quilt 5 Festivals

Fire and Ice 6,7

About Us 8 Page 2 Heritage News

Inside Story Headline

GREAT BASIN HERITAGE NEWS GBH News is the official newsletter A Report from the President of the Great Basin National Heritage Partnership and is produced by its Executive Director, R. Dan Gooch.

GBHAP held its quarterly board meeting in Ely GBH NEWS is published periodi- cally. All issues are posted on the on November. 6, 2010. It was a productive meet- GBNHP website. Some copies are also mailed or e-mailed to GBNHA ing especially since we are getting closer to partners and associates. a completed management plan. The board mem-

GBH NEWS will accept articles from bers received copies of the first draft of three partners or interested parties on chapters of the management plan plus the com- heritage issues or events occurring within the Great Basin National pleted interpretative plan . This is a rough draft Heritage Area. Articles may include to be reviewed for accuracy, completeness and organization. There photos (preferably in JPG format) accompanied by a cover letter with may be much to be added and edited before a draft is available for the author’s name, address and public review. Then revisions will be made based on public com- telephone number. They may be mailed to: ments before the final draft is submitted to the Secretary of the Inte- GBH News rior. Board members are reading and working on this first draft and PO Box 78 are to be submitting their recommendations. Baker, NV 89311 or e-mailed to greatbasinheri- [email protected] Since then the Board meeting members have received another two Great Basin National Heritage chapters on the scenic and natural features of the area. The fine pho- Partnership Board: tos help depict the scenic beauty of the region. President…………...…...Denys Koyle

Treasurer………...... Julie Gianoli Directors.…………....Jane Beckwith From a business point of view, traffic on Highway 50 is better than ……………………….Gordon Chatland last year. The tourist season was good which ties into the Heritage ……………………………Kyla Overson Area. We have so much to show the traveler. ……………………….Virginia Sanchez

………………………Delanie Spilsbury ………………………..…...Dave Tilford Also, the invitations to the Old Sheepherders' Party went out re- ………………………………..Robin Bell cently. This "party" which started out to be a one night thing has been so successful that it is now a two day event with at least 150 par- ticipants each day. The mailing list has expanded to 240 names. It Bookkeeper ………..Susan Wetmore is gratifying that so many people who lived this extraordinary lonely Utah Associate .... Gordon Chatland sheep raisers life style have responded to our efforts as a heritage Become involved… area to do oral histories and record a little known aspect of Great Ba- GBNHP seeks partners to join us as sup- porters, funders, operators of heritage sin life. features, volunteers, or even as critics. Contact us at: PO Box 78 Baker, NV 89311 or e-mailed to greatbasinheri- [email protected] Denys Koyle, GBNHP President Phone (775) 234-7171 Page 3 Heritage News Tourism Commission grants help GBNHA RENO, Nev. — The Nevada Spreading the word can transform a Cannons event near Ely the week- Commission on Tourism (NCOT) small event with 200 local people end of June 25, 2011, featuring approved grants in early Decem- into an economic booster with 2,000 bathtub boat racing, a barbecue ber to help rural communities visitors who check into hotels and and cannon fire and fireworks fi- attract visitors to a diverse stay awhile.” nale. Last year’s event drew 2,600 group of attractions including a visitors and this year is expected to bathtub boat show in Ely. NCOT approves rural grants twice a attract more than 3,000 and 1,500 year, in June and December, and is room nights in local hotels. The commission, meeting in awarding just over $1 million for http://www.youtube.com/watch?v Reno, voted for grants totaling FY2011. Grants awarded in June =NUf3ertVWCA more than $362,000 that will totaled more than $662,000. enable 73 recipient organiza- ►$6,700 for Indian Territory to tions to advertise and market an “Rural communities know how to conduct the Nevada Tribal Tourism array of tourism venues, events really stretch grant dollars and get Training program April 20-21, and activities that draw travelers the biggest possible return on the 2011, at the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe and deliver dollars to sustain investment,” NCOT Interim Director to educate members on how to ad- local economies. Larry Friedman said. “Each project vertise attractions and products, is evaluated before the grant is seek grant funding and develop “Awarding these grants extends awarded and after the project is ac- successful infrastructure to draw a helping hand to rural commu- complished, so we know that the visitors. Funding will provide a nities so they can reach out and work was completed successfully. It training program, advertising mate- entice more consumers to ex- is one of our most worthy pro- rials and speaker and travel costs perience their local events, at- grams.” for 80 attendees. tractions and activities,” Lt. Gov. www.NevadaIndianTerritory.com Brian K. Krolicki, NCOT chair, Two of the of the winning projects said. “Grants truly make a dif- important to the GBNHA include: A complete listing of Rural Grants ference in whether rural Nevada approved Dec. 7 is available online venues can afford the marketing ► $5,500 for the White Pine at they need to sustain their tour- County Tourism and Recreation http://travelnevada.biz/news/pres ism-dependent economies. Board to advertise the Cocktails and s.aspx

Great Basin Heritage Area News Shorts sure that their traditions stay strong. These awards are given to Museum gets fossils & minerals Nevada folk and heritage grants individuals for their lifelong record available of artistic excellence, authenticity, and significance. In November the Great Basin Mu- seum in Delta, UT received a nota- A new round has been announced The Nevada Heritage Award is rec- ble collection of fossils and miner- for Folklife Apprenticeship Grants als. and Nevada Heritage Awards for the ognition of lifetime achievement The collection donated by the es- 2012 fiscal year (from July, 2011 and may only be received once. tate of Howard Shanks of Ames, through June, 2012). Iowa was significant residual from Grant awards are $3,500. One or materials provided originally to The Folklife Grants provide a one- two awards are presented each Mesalands Dinosaur Museum in year grant of $2000: a $1500 sti- year, depending on the application Tucumcari, New Mexico. Staff at pend for the master artist plus up pool and availability of funds. the Great Basin Museum is study- to $500 for supplies and travel. ing the collection to determine Eight grants will be awarded. Nominations must be submitted how it may be interpreted in rela- Nevada Heritage Awards were cre- online by March 15, 2010. Contact tion to the Utah west desert. The ated to recognize and celebrate the the Nevada Arts Council’s Folklife materials including crinoids, cor- state’s living cultural treasures. The Program staff before beginning to als, fish, leaves, insects and a recipients embody the highest level prepare a nomination. number of minerals will be made of artistic achievement in their available to the public and to en- work and the highest level of ser- The GBNHP encourages its part- hance the academic performance vice in the teaching and other work ners to participate by contacting: of students. they do in their communities to en- http://nac.nevadaculture.org/ Page 4 Heritage News ….. Continued from Page 1

Heritage Area Partners with Railroad Museum

ongoing program of interpretation in need of expansion associated with a need to do some restoration on one of its living museum pieces. The Foundation, however, was a bit short on funding for the restoration while at the same time, had excess capacity of volunteer opportunity.

Use of restored railcars enhance opportunities for interpretation. Because of its conservative han- dling of its federal funding support, Headquartered in Ely, Nevada, the the Partnership had a bit of avail- railroad’s original purpose was to It’s an expensive proposition to re- able revenue that could be applied haul copper ore from open pit mines store and maintain and operate his- to help it and the Foundation lever- in Ruth, to the west, and to a smelter toric locomotives and rail cars, keep age the funds to solve all the dilem- in McGill, north of Ely. For many buildings and infrastructure in good mas at once decades, the Nevada Northern Rail- repair, and meet federal standards and to grow road also served the region by run- for professional, safe operations. an impor- ning school trains, shift trains, party tant pro- trains, church trains, and “ping Two of the historic passenger rail- gram--just pong” trains between smaller com- cars rail cars in demonstration use what Na- munities and Ely. In the fall, hunting were originally built and maintained tional Heri- trains were organized. by the Illinois Central Railroad tage Areas which had modified the railcars with are desig- The railroad also carried passengers non standard coupling devices so nated to do! and freight in and out of Ely, and that they cannot be uncoupled and

Mark Bassett, Di- transported cattle and sheep to mar- train cars cannot be assembled in The White rector of the North- ket. alternate order. This has caused Pine Rail- ern Nevada Rail- problems particularly in cold road Foun- way Museum With two steam loco- dation is a Heavy steel coupling devices like the one pic- helped craft a motives and three tured below connect one rail car to another to partnership agree- non-profit diesel locomotives in organization create a train of cars. The non-standard cou- ment that will operation, several pling units on some of the historic cars used benefit both his that oper- functioning passenger ates North- by the Northern Nevada Railway prevent organization and cars (and more await- trains from being assembled in alternate con- ern Nevada the GBNHA. ing restoration), doz- figurations. Railway and ens of historic struc- its related tures, working shops, museum on behalf of the City of Ely, and 20 miles of ser- NV the owner of the railroad and viceable track, NNRY railroad complex. The Foundation offers visitors and is organized to receive, administer, volunteers an excep- and develop an operating railroad tional opportunity to museum for the purpose to authen- experience living rail- tically preserve, restore, and operate road history. The Ne- the Nevada Northern Railway for the vada Northern Rail- benefit of future generations way Museum may through education. well be the most com- plete working historic Saved from demolition by a deter- railroad operation in mined community effort, the Nevada this hemisphere; it Northern Railway (NNRY) preserves was designated a Na- an intact, early- to mid-20th century tional Historic Land- railroad operation. mark in 2006. Page 5 Heritage News

without additional manpower. weather when the brakes on one of Delta festivals add ex-

the cars may contain frozen water citement to late winter With the couplings restored, the Rail- vapor and its brakes cannot be road will be able to expand operations properly “set”. And, because regu- The Snow Goose Festival lations of the Federal Railroad Ad- and promotion of the historic railroad. It will be better able to implement its (February 25 & 26, 2011) cele- ministration prevent demonstration recently developed interpretive plan brates the arrival of thousands of operation of an entire train in the Lesser Snow Geese in the fields that projects: “Increased attendance event that brakes of one car are not and waters between Delta and would significantly stabilize the Mu- functional, existing coupler configu- Clear Lake Management Area. seum’s budget. ration can and has prevented sched- This is an annual festival with

uled demonstration use of the rail- activities including free waterfowl Many people who ride the excursion road. workshops, a 10K race, a photog- trains go on to join as members, sign raphy contest, and a quilt show. The Partnership, in the interest of up for rentals, become volunteers, and/or contribute financially. That’s expanded interpretation and promo- Geese are also seen returning to why attracting more visitors is an im- tion of this historical, cultural, sce- Gunnison Bend Reservoir, west of portant strategic goal for NNRY and nic and recreational use of demon- Delta, after feeding in nearby for the GBNHP. It’s equally important stration trains, will provide $25,000 fields. Bird lovers bring their own to ensure that every visitor has a re- for historically accurate and func- binoculars or view the sight warding and memorable experience.” tional modification and restoration through spotting scopes set up by The interpretive plan addresses both of the couplings on the two railcars. wildlife officials. goals. This project is anticipated to be

done before this winter’s cold Among other benefits, the project is weather slows operation. anticipated to enhance economic op- portunity in Ely and within the Great Ely is a small, remote community, Basin National Heritage Area by at- half a day’s drive from Reno, Las tracting more tourist dollars—another Vegas, and Salt Lake City. Elko is reason the Heritage area was created. the closest city, about three hours Thus the project will help the Heritage away. In spite of these distances, an Area, Ely and the Railroad, not to estimated 30,000 visitors make their mention improve the experience of all way to the Nevada Northern Railway who visit. Museum each year. Most of them visit between spring break and Hal- loween; December attendance has The adjacent East Ely Railroad grown in recent years thanks to Po- Depot Museum (below) operated lar Express excursion trains. The by the State of Nevada should Museum has significant room for also benefit from increased visi- growth; day-to-day, NNRY could tation of the Northern Nevada handle considerably more visitors Railroad.

The Lesser Snow Goose appears a rather handsome animal. In conjunction with the Snow Goose Festival the 9th Annual Piece in the Valley Quilt Show will display area quilting at the Millard County Fair building. Last year more than 100 quilts were shown. A "Viewer's Choice Award" will be given to the quilt that receives the most votes from the public. There will also be a vendors mall, trunk show, fash- ion show, lectures, and quilt classes for all levels of quilting.

Page 6 Heritage News Fireworks and ice sculptures attract visitors from around the country Heritage is being created all the time. It sometimes becomes a riff on historic events or cultural fea- tures of an area or sometimes it reflects contemporary issues. The Annual Fire and Ice Show in and near Ely, NV often does both.

The Fire and Ice Show was in- spired in 2003, when an Ely resi- dent made a snow sculpture of a large trout on a popular area ice- lished as a supplement to the Sep- fishing lake. So tember/October issue of Destina- many visitors tions magazine, indicates that Fire came to inspect & Ice offers excellent entertainment the snowy crea- value to both tour groups and indi- tion that park vidual travelers from around the officials at Cave world, according to ABA. Lake State Park pounced on the Fantastic past creations include a inspecting a nugget of gold and opportunity and magical fairy tale bear fast asleep even daunting shark fins ap- two years later, in a sleigh bed, the enormous head proaching a frantically swimming the snow-sculpting competition and hands of a prospector closely man. But the outdoor festival, began. The whole community of Ely has jumped on the idea. This ABA's Top 100 Events in year top prize sculptors will snag a North $1000 award! And the fire part America is includes 2 extravagant displays of pyrotechnics. an annual compen- The Fire and Ice Show has be- dium of the come such a tremendous success best events that the American Bus Association for group ranks it regularly among its Top travel in 100 Events in North America. the United Inclusion in the Top 100 list, pub- States and Canada. Each spring, a committee of ABA-member motorcoach and tour operators selects the Top 100 Events for the subse- quent year; the list is un- veiled in September. Winners are chosen from hundreds of celebrations, festivals, fairs, commemorative events, and more that have been nomi- nated by ABA members. From among the winners, ABA names the Number One Event for both the United States and Canada. Page 7 Heritage News

held annually in January, offers from the pyrotechnics bounce off toric Nevada cannon. visitors much more than just in- canyon walls to add to the cacoph- ventive snow sculptures. Past ac- ony. The White Pine Fire and Ice Show tivities at the Fire and Ice Show is sponsored by White Pine County include snow bowling, one-hole Other activities at the park Tourism and Recreation Board, snow golf – played with a bright throughout the weekend include the Nevada Commission on Tour- green tennis ball for visibility, of skiing, snowmobiling, ice-skating, ism and the Nevada Division of course – live music and great food ice fishing and the firing of a his- State Parks. and hand crafted “heritage” bever- ages served by the White Pine Brewing Company, the area’s only micro- brewery. The finale of each Fire and Ice Show is a brilliant fireworks extrava- ganza, which is all the more vivid thanks to the fro- zen landscape.

This year’s events will take place January 14 through 16th (2011). Prior years featured the two- day ice sculpting contest culminat- ing in a fireworks show launched over Cave Lake and echoing through- out the canyon ex- tending back into the state park. Last year in addition to the fireworks dis- play over the fro- zen, high-desert lake, an additional fireworks show was added in Ely set off from a train as it puffed through town. In both loca- tions the cold, dry air makes the col- ors more vibrant than summer dis- plays. The reports Heritage News PO Box 78 Baker, NV 89311

The Newsletter of the Great Basin National Heritage Partnership. The Great Basin National Heritage Partnership We are on the Web. Visit us at: Our mission is to: develop and enable partnerships to help http://www.greatbasinheritage.org/ identify, research and evaluate, conserve, protect, interpret For best reading, download and print and promote the archaeological, historical, cultural, natu- this edition in color. ral, scenic and recreational resources of the Great Basin Become a GBNHA Partner For details log on to: National Heritage Area in a way that enhances economic

http://www.greatbasinheritage.org/ opportunity without managing or regulating land use. You may want to know a little about our history and our objectives… And join us as a partner

The Great Basin National Heri- The Great Basin National Heri- are or could be partners. Part- tage Area (GBNHA) was desig- tage Partnership (GBNHP) was ners are nothing more than indi- nated by Congress in 2006 to designated as the local coordinat- viduals, non-profit organizations, recognize its ing entity for the governmental agencies, busi- “classic western Area. nesses, or even foundations that landscape that have an interest in the Great Ba- contains long natu- The Partnership sin National Heritage Area and ral vistas, isolated has been in opera- want to participate in what the high desert valleys, tion formally since partnership is doing. Relation- mountain ranges, 2002 when it was ships can be formal; the partner- ranches, mines, incorporated. It ship has a written agreement historic railroads, had been active with the National Park Service archaeological sites informally prior to and we are working on develop- and tribal commu- that. ing memorandums of under- nities.” The recog- standing with local BLM Offices. nized Area is made In addition to de- Or, they can be informal; we up of two neighboring counties, veloping a management plan, the have simple letters of support White Pine in Nevada, Millard in Partnership is currently reformu- from a number of groups. No Utah, as representative of the lating its relationship with organi- written documentation is neces- larger geographic Great Basin. zations and agencies that were, sary if individuals want to volun- teer.