{Click on an image to enlarge, then use the back button to return to this page}
This page last updated on 01/29/2019
 |
| (Fig. 01) |
The Museum: In 1935 the Civilian Conservation Corps built the museum (Fig. 01) on an archaeological site to house the collections being excavated by the CCC. Something unique to any other museum, this museum was built over an archaeological site, leaving a part of the original archaeological dig preserved inside as an exhibit (Figs. 04 & 05).
There is an outdoor reconstruction showing what an Anasazi pueblo may have looked like many centuries ago. This outside area contains an exact replica of several wattle-and-daub Anasazi pueblos (Fig. 02). Peering into the windows and doors of these structures reveals great detail, such as exposed roof rafters, support beams, hearths, etc. As long as you don't climb on the fragile tops of the structures, you can crawl inside and imagine life from the Anasazi perspective. The Anasazi are a well known and interesting prehistoric culture that existed in prehistoric times throughout the northwest part of the Southwest US. After occupying vast tracts of the Southwest the Anasazi abandoned many areas leaving behind their ruins, pottery and other signs of substantial and long term occupation.
Inside there are numerous displays depicting the excavations of the sites, incredible artifacts unearthed during the CCC project, pictures of the historical excavations, an excavated pit house, and a wealth of information on the ancient peoples that inhabited this area from more than 12,000 thousand years ago, up to present day times. Pottery, shells, jewelry, baskets, and many other examples that showcase the history of these early inhabitants are on display throughout the museum (Fig. 03). The Lost City Museum was not the original name; it was actually called the Boulder Dam Park Museum. It was originally named for Boulder Dam, [now Hoover Dam]. It was originally built and run by the National Park Service. In 1952, the National Park Service wanted to turn over operation of the museum to the State of Nevada, and in 1953, the Lost City Museum became a state-run museum. Since it was built in 1935, two wings have been added to provide additional exhibit space. The museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. See below for more on early habitation of the area and the details on the Lost City Archaeological Excavations.
 |
| (Fig. 02) |
 |
| (Fig. 03) |
 |
| (Fig. 04) |
 |
| (Fig. 05) |
07/25/2016 Trip Notes: After visiting and hiking around the Overton Wildlife Management Area, Bob Croke and I visited the Lost City Museum in Overton, NV. Though not all native to the Lost City area, they have one of the best displays of ancient pottery and woven baskets. The two jugs on the left side of (Fig. 06) are examples of Puebloan pottery canteens with lug handles for twine or hide straps and are dated about 1000 years old. The jug in the bottom right corner of the collage is a Southern Paiute woven water jug that was coated with pine pitch for waterproofing. The fine baskets in (Fig. 07) are believed to have been made by Southern Paiutes living in the Pahrump Valley during the 1920's and 30's The stitches per inch range from 21 to 42. Four of the baskets have been identified to the work of master basket maker Hanna Bruce. The quality of these woven baskets are just amazing (Fig. 07). (Fig. 09) is an example of an ancient fire board that was use with a bow drill commonly was used to make friction fire.
 |
| (Fig. 06) |
 |
| (Fig. 07) |
 |
| (Fig. 08) |
 |
| (Fig. 09) |
History of Early Habitation: The first inhabitants of what is now Nevada arrived about 12,000 years ago. They were fishermen, as well as hunters and food gatherers, for the glacial lakes of the ancient Great Basin were then only beginning to recede. Though numerous sites of early human habitation throughout the state have been found, the most famous is the Pueblo Grande de Nevada (also known as Lost City). No one really knows why the Anasazi culture left the Moapa Valley. Typical indications of warfare, disease, invasion and other factors which would likely account for such a shift in population are not apparent. In more modern times, four principal Indian groups have inhabited Nevada: Southern Paiute, Northern Paiute, Shoshoni, and Washo. Eventually, Mormon settlements were started here and in Las Vegas Valley. Even though the Las Vegas Mission failed, many of the farming communities (such as St. Thomas) to the north succeeded. Famous for its rich history of silver mining, coupled with the discovery of gold, Nevada has always been recognized as a mining state. However, few people realize that the first miners in Nevada were Native Americans, starting as early as 2,000 years ago. Because there was no knowledge of "smelting", these prehistoric miners were more interested in minerals such as salt, turquoise, magnesite and other earthly minerals. A large magnesite deposit is located about three miles south of Overton, near the center of the Lost City. The Anasazi used it as a white slip for pottery.
History of the Lost City Archaeological Excavations: In 1924 two brothers from Overton, John and Fay Perkins, reported the finding of ruins they found scattered along the banks of the Muddy River in Moapa Valley. In November of the same year, a delegation headed by Mark Raymond Harrington begin excavations. Harrington determined that the area appeared to be an active Anasazi community from 300 B.C. to A.D. 1150. He recognized the ruins as the Basketmaker and Puebloan and related them to archaeological sites found throughout the Four Corners region. Harrington and his crew concentrated excavations of the Lost City sites in an area east of the Muddy River that stretched about six miles north of the confluence of the Muddy and Virgin Rivers. Harrington excavated an important part of Lost City in 1924, 1925, and 1926. As many as fifty to one hundred people lived there in about 1000 to 1050 A.D. Harrington found forty-five homesteads, most of which included "living rooms" with hearths, associated with a line or curve of smaller store rooms. One or two families lived at each. The structures were built of mud and sandstone, with clay floors. None were more than one story high. At least forty-five people were buried at the excavation site, later named Main Ridge. To accompany their journey into the afterlife, most of them were buried with pottery bowls, jars, or canteens, serving as containers for water or food such as corn, squash, amaranth seeds, and mesquite beans. Some also had baskets, cotton cloth wrappings, or turquoise or shell beads.
 |
| (Fig. 05) |
In 1934 the National Park Service sponsored a large-scale archaeology project to save the finds of the Lost City sites from the effects of the construction of the Hoover Dam; the creation of Lake Mead would cover these excavated sites. Note: Some of this information were excerpted from the publication, Nevada’s Lost City.
(OPTION 1) Each show is designed to run automatically in place, without leaving the current browser window. If the show is not already running, just click the large "Play" button in the middle of the picture and let it run.
(OPTION 2) Running the cursor over the picture being shown will PAUSE the show and bring up a navigation bar at the bottom of the slideshow window with Pause, Forward and Back buttons, allowing you to start, stop or manually forward or back up pictures one at a time.
Slideshow Description:
The slideshow above contains 23 pictures that were taken at the Lost City Museum in Overton, NV.
Note: Every attempt is made to provide accurate information, but occasionally depictions are inaccurate by error of mapping, navigation or cataloging. The information on this site is provided without any warranty, express or implied, and is for informational and historical purposes only.
