Roadside History of Nevada (Roadside History Series) [Paperback]

Richard Moreno (Author)

Book Description

Series: Roadside History | Publication Date: July 1, 2000

There's more to Nevada than one-armed bandits, cheap buffets, and Elvis impersonators. From ice ages to expeditions, Paiutes to pioneers, and dams to divorce seekers, Roadside History of Nevada provides an overview of the Silver State. Richard Moreno divides Nevada into six geographical-historical areas, rich and often surprising in detail: Pyramid Lake yielded a world-record 41-pound cutthroat trout; Virginia City housed Mark Twain when he wrote for the Territorial Enterprise; and Lovelock Cave was the site of one of the West's greatest archeological misunderstandings. Survey the boom and bust of the mining industry, trace the desperate plight of the Donner party trapped in Sierra snow, and observe the growth of gambling from low-profile to a neon-castle industry.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Rich Moreno is one of the most talented travel writers in the West. His knowledge of Nevada's farthest reaches and the unusual history of each place may be unmatched." --Ron James, Nevada state historical preservation officer

Product Details

• Paperback: 286 pages
• Publisher: Mountain Press Publishing Company (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878424105
• ISBN-13: 978-0878424108
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #696,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Moreno is Director of Student Publications and an instructor in the English and Journalism Department at Western Illinois University. He was publisher of Nevada Magazine for 14 years and is the author of eleven books, including "A Short History of Carson City, Nevada," "Roadside History of Nevada," and "Illinois Curiosities." In 2007, he was awarded the Nevada Writer's Hall of Fame's Silver Pen Award, which recognizes emerging or mid-career writers who have shown substantial achievement in their work and a demonstrated connection with Nevada in either their subject matter or by living in the state.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Idaho Librarian Review, June 10, 2003

By 

Bob Hook (University of Idaho) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roadside History of Nevada (Roadside History Series) (Paperback)

Roadside History of Nevada is part of a growing series of books on roadside history published by Mountain Press. To date there are roadside histories available for sixteen states and Yellowstone Park. These books will make valuable traveling companions any time you take a trip and have time to enjoy the historical or geological sites along the way.

The Roadside History of Nevada is a well-written and interesting book. Moreno spends the first chapter reviewing the history of Nevada from its geologic and human prehistory through recorded history to the present time. He then uses the rest of the book to discuss the various roadways and the Nevada towns that were and are inhabited. The book is organized, logically, along the roadways and is divided into six chapters: Interstate 80 (The Emigrant Trail), Reno and the Lake Tahoe Area, US 50 (The Loneliest Road in America), US 95 and US 6 (The Silver Trails), US 93 (The Mormon Trail), and The Las Vegas Area. Within each section, discussion proceeds along the lines of the main highways and the other highways and byways that connect with them. A map of the roads precedes each chapter, but be careful of the Highway 50 map (page 118). It has the highway going into Idaho, not Utah! The book includes 140 photographs which include buildings still standing, ruins of buildings, and pictographs from the earliest humans in the area. There is also a selected bibliography and an excellent index which includes areas, events and people.

If you ever wanted to know how a place got its name or why it was settled, then this is the book for you. This book isn't just about places; it is also about the people who populated them. As I read this book, I found myself wishing that I had had it along on the many trips I have taken through Nevada. As I finished each section of the book, I was ready to get into the car and go exploring the places that Moreno discusses.

Who should read this book? Anyone who has an interest in Nevada and/or western history in general. And anyone who enjoys seeing where history was made. Academic and public librarians will find this book, as well as the series, a good addition to their collections, either as historical information or for description and travel information.

If you find this book interesting, I would recommend other books Richard Moreno has written on outings a person can take throughout Nevada: The Backyard Traveler and The Backyard Traveler Returns. Also consider other books in the Roadside History... and Roadside Geology... series, depending on where your travels take you. The geology series includes twenty-three titles. Unfortunately at the present time Nevada doesn't have the companion roadside geology book, but since Nevada has mining as a major part of its history, it is possible that Roadside History of Nevada and the book Geology Underfoot in Central Nevada can fill the gap for now.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There's no place like Nevada..., February 13, 2011

By 

D Swaney (Big Lake, AK USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roadside History of Nevada (Roadside History Series) (Paperback)

This book expands on all those little Nevada-shaped historical markers that line the desert highways of this amazing state, recalling the hopes, dreams, faith, wins and losses of the pioneers that turned a desert wilderness into the typically rather dysfunctional Nevada experience of today. But the rural lands remain, and for anyone looking for a jackpot, the historical perspective provided by this book, superimposed on Nevada's wild desert landscapes and history, provide a surer win than is available in any casino.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent History of Nevada, February 7, 2002

By 

Bob Hook (University of Idaho) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roadside History of Nevada (Roadside History Series) (Paperback)

Rich Moreno is one of the most talented travel writers in the West. His knowledge of Nevada's farthest reaches and the unusual history of each place may be unmatched. In "Roadside History of Nevada," Moreno captures what's best of Nevada, and shows his talents off in a remarkable way.