HOME MEANS NEVADA

Every year Nevada Day is observed on the last Friday of October even though the actual date of Nevada becoming a state was October 31st 1864. It’s a special day to most people who call this state home and I am no exception. I thought hard about the ways to talk about what makes Nevada special, from the history to the landscape to all the people who have been major influences throughout the state. As I researched and looked for inspiration to put my thoughts about Nevada into words I came across the lyrics to the state song “Home Means Nevada” and it made me really think about how that song continues to capture the spirit of our state.

“Way out in the land of the setting sun, where the wind blows wild and free, There’s a lovely spot, just the only one that means home sweet home to me”

When people think of Nevada usually the first thing that comes to mind is the glittering lights of Las Vegas. Even Reno has had the reputation of being a place where things happen after dark, with the lights of our downtown having their own glow and the remnants of casinos from the past and present lining Virginia Street. But if you look past that and really think about the setting sun in Nevada what comes to my mind is the literal epic sunsets you can see throughout the state. The bright blue Nevada sky can become a masterpiece of pinks and oranges as the sun sets no matter where in the state you are. I’ve watched the sun set behind the Sierras, in Lamoille Canyon, and along the vast open landscape as you drive from Reno to Las Vegas. The sunsets can give way to amazing night skies as well, Nevada may not get the northern lights, but the protected dark sky areas of the state can open your eyes to the expansiveness of the universe in a way that you don’t see anywhere else.

The winds in our area have been well documented for years as they definitely blow wild and free throughout the Truckee Meadows. If you’ve ever traveled between Reno and Carson City you may have felt an infamous Washoe Zephyr push your car around as you go down highway 395. Even Mark Twain wrote about the winds in the area “A Washoe wind is by no means a trifling matter. It blows flimsy houses down, lifts shingle roofs occasionally, rolls up tin ones like sheet music, now and then blows a stage-coach over and spills the passengers; and tradition says the reason there are so many bald people there is, that the wind blows the hair off their heads while they are looking skyward after their hats.” The natural power of the place we live is equaled by its natural beauty, and that is one of the things that make Nevada such a lovely spot to call home sweet home.

“If you follow the old Kit Carson Trail until desert meets the hills, oh you certainly will agree with me, it’s the place of a thousand thrills”

One thing I’ve never felt has gotten enough attention is the amount of adventure Nevada has offered up to people even before it was recognized as a state. You don’t realize how many things happened in our backyard that are historically significant. The Kit Carson Trail is an offshoot of the historic California Trail which lead travelers through Nevada to the base of the Sierras, before continuing on into California. This same area is where gold and silver deposits were discovered creating both fortunes and ghost towns throughout the state. Even though Sutter’s Mill in California gets credit for the gold rush, Nevada’s natural landscape has provided the thrills of boom and bust that many associate with other places. Nevada was also the wild west even if that term is associated with other states, in fact the very first train robbery in the west happened outside of Verdi on November 4th 1870. The historical thrills continued as both the first transcontinental railroad and highway crossed through Nevada, creating jobs and towns along their paths. Nature brought its own thrills as well with hiking, rock climbing and skiing opportunities throughout the state. Even though Nevada is the driest state, there are rivers and lakes that offer thrills to those of us lucky enough to live here to this day.

“Home means Nevada, Home means the hills, Home means the sage and the pine, Out by the Truckee’s silvery rills, out where the sun always shines”

Growing up in eastern Nevada I’m definitely familiar with the many hills and mountains that make up our state. It’s always funny to me when people who aren’t from Nevada think it’s just some flat, sandy, desolate desert when it’s actually full of both elevation and life. The plants and animals that we share space with have all adapted to make Nevada home for them. Sagebrush dots the landscape with its hearty adaptations that allow it to thrive year round. Pinyon pines have provided food and cultural items for centuries. Yes, we do live in a desert but that doesn’t mean it’s empty. The Truckee river exists in this desert and it’s one of the most unique and lively waterways out there. From Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake, vibrance follows its flow in the form of ecosystems, geological formations and communities. The rivers that run through the Great Basin are all wildly different from one another but they all have meaning to every person that interacts with them making them all a very special part of Nevada.

“Here is the land which I love the best, fairer than all I can see. Deep in the heart of the golden west, Home means Nevada to me”

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About the Author Matt DeBray   (he/him/his)

Communications Manager

Matt is the Communications Manager for Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation. After serving with TMPF as an AmeriCorps VISTA in 2017 he worked to promote AmeriCorps programs throughout Nevada for four years and is excited to be back at the place that started his journey in the nonprofit world. Matt studied Radio Television Production at the University of Montana and brings over a decade of experience to the TMPF communications team. When he isn't working you can find Matt watching baseball, hiking with his family, or being pulled behind a boat.