Re: Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City

Both the Carson City and the Boulder City Nevada State RR Museums were started as part of the State museum system.

Story that I heard is that several decades ago the Nev. State RR Museum in Carson City hosted a group of State legislative Assembly members. One of the Assembly members from the Las Vegas area saw the coach, that was once at the Los Angeles Live Steamers, lettered as the Las Vegas & Tonopah. He wondered out loud that maybe there should be a railroad museum in Las Vegas and that car could be part of it. Thus the concept of the second State Railroad Museum was born.

Turn out that recent research on the coach has shown that it never was owned by the LV&T. It carries the Pullman order lot number (stamped on the window sash and door) of a coach built for the Tonopah & Tidewater. Car is still in Carson City; but, it may find its way to Boulder City in the future.

I understand that funding is available for completing the design and plans for the planned visitor center. Further funding will probably be a combination of state and local funding sources. The Museum Director is reported to be actively working toward securing funding for this capital project..

The Nevada State Museums are budgeted as part of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs which I believe receives a portion of its operational funding as part of a state-wide "bed tax." I hear that the Department has cut staffing this year because of the decrease of travel to and overnight stays in Nevada.

Brian Norden