In 2017, National Day Calendar® began celebrating each state in the order they entered the union starting the week of Independence Day and ending with Hawaii. We highlight a small part of each states’ history, foods and the people who make up the state. Many states have their own state celebrations, and National Day Calendar’s observances in no way replace them. There’s so much more to explore, we can’t help but celebrate our beautiful country even more!
NATIONAL NEVADA DAY
On March 29th, National Nevada Day celebrates The Battle Born State and the 36th state to join the Union.
On October 31, 1864, Nevada joined West Virginia as the only other state to be granted statehood during the Civil War.
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 needed residents until 1880. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it would even lose population and not achieve the qualifying numbers again until 1910.
Lonely or not, Nevada was the first state to vote for the 13th Amendment 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. It would be 30 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 #NationalNevadaDay
- Join National Day Calendar as we recognize Nevada’s hidden treasures and natural beauty.
- Book a trip to explore and relax.
- Share your adventures and make recommendations to must-see places.
- Uncover hidden gems and a little luck in Nevada!
- Check out these 7 Nevada Road Trips.
- Use #NationalNevadaDay to share on social media.
Patrick McCarran served as an associate justice of the Nevada Supreme Court and Democratic Senator during his career.
Business leader and law man, Fred Balzar also served as state senator and assessor before being elected Governor of Nevada.
Frederick Delongchamps earned a reputation for providing both residential and public designs that have retained architectural and historical significance.
In 1907, James E. Casey started a messenger service that would become United Parcel Service with just a $100.00 start-up fund.
Award-winning author and advocate, Sarah Winnemucca served as an interpreter and wrote Life Among the Piutes: Their Wrongs and Claims.
One time president of the Las Vegas Press Club, Ruthe Deskin’s journalism career included radio and print. She also founded local youth programs.
Procter R. Hug, Jr was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals by Jimmy Carter in 1977. He served until 2017.
Dawn Wells was an actress during the 1960s. Best known for her role as Mary Ann on the TV sitcom, Gilligan’s Island, she was crowned Miss Nevada in 1959.
Broadcaster and founder of the radio program Coast to Coast AM syndicated, Art Bell focused on the unusual, conspiracies and extraterrestrials. His program lives on with new hosts and new unexplained phenomenon.
Andre Agassi put the tennis world in the headlines during the 1990s. Winning Wimbledon and several Grand Slams, Agassi would take gold at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.
Pioneer Hotel – Elko
Valley of Fire – Overton
The Mob Museum – Las Vegas
Bowers Mansion Region Park – Carson City
Fly Geyser – Gerlach
