March 29 - National Nevada Day

Happy National Nevada Day! Today we observe the 36th state to join the union back on October 31, 1864. 

This state in the Western United States is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. 

Nevada is the seventh most extensive, the thirty-second most populous, but the ninth least densely populated of the U.S. states. 

Joining West Virginia as the only other state to be granted statehood during the Civil War, Nevada is a study in contrasts. 

Also nicknamed The Battle Born State and The Sagebrush State, the mostly desert landscape is nearly devoid of trees. With vast open spaces, dramatic gorges, majestic mountains and windswept rock formations, the state transforms quickly. 

Nevada may have once been the loneliest state and is home to the loneliest highway. After the Comstock Lode discovery of silver in 1859, the population grew dramatically.  

By 1864, when the state was admitted to the union, Nevada lacked the 60,000 to be granted statehood and didn’t gain the residents until 1880. 

It would even lose population according to the U.S. Census Bureau and not achieve the qualifying numbers again until 1910. 

Lonely or not, Nevada was the first state to vote for the 13th Amendment in abolishing slavery. 

Nevada wasn’t lonely for long. The population exploded when two railroads connected in 1905 and established a town called Las Vegas and first platted in 1910. However, it would be thirty years before the first resort would open. Casinos and glamour would soon follow. 

As the casinos began to sprout, construction of Hoover Dam began. Formerly named Boulder Dam, the dam on the Colorado River provides hydropower to Nevada, Arizona, and California. 

Most of the state is made up of National Parks providing some of the best opportunities for star-gazing anywhere. Perhaps that’s why Area 51 attracts so much attention and mystery. Well, who are we kidding? 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Join National Day Calendar® as they recognize Nevada’s hidden treasures and natural beauty. Uncover hidden gems and a little luck in Nevada! Use #NationalNevadaDay to share on social media. 

Hidden Treasures

Pioneer Hotel – Elko 

Valley of Fire – Overton 

The Mob Museum – Las Vegas 

Bowers Mansion Region Park – Carson City 

Fly Geyser – Gerlach 

We also observe these famous figures born in Nevada of whom are still recognized for their past accomplishments, heroics, talents, ingenuity and innovations: Patrick Anthony McCarran, Fred Balzar, Frederick Delongchamps, James E. Casey, Sarah Winnemucca, Pat Nixon, Ruthe Deskin, Procter R. Hug Jr., Dawn Wells and and Andre Agassi. 

Visit the link below to see those of notable birth who were not mentioned on the list above:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Nevada 

Here's to The Silver State! 

#NationalNevadaDay

#laketahoe

#hooverdam 

@Vegas
@area51org 

@NevadaFootball 

@nichecinema