CARSON CITY – A new resource guide is now available to help identify significant historic events and locations throughout Nevada that played an integral role in the African American pursuit of civil rights. “The African American Civil Rights Experience in Nevada, 1900-1979” cultural resource guide was developed by the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office through a commission and funding from the National Park Service.
Whether it is the site of the 1910 Johnson-Jeffries fight in Reno that established Nevada as a live-entertainment destination, or the Harrison House in Las Vegas where African-American performers stayed in the era of segregation, the State of Nevada is home to many iconic buildings and landmarks that have helped shape the story of the Civil Rights Movement in the Silver State,” a statement from the NSHPO said. “Beyond the most well-known locations, there are many that are yet to be discovered.”
The new resource guide is designed to provide an overview of how organizations and individuals can discover those locations. It provides an overview of how to:
- Identify locations and resources of significance to the African American Civil Rights movement in Nevada
- Assess locations and resources to determine their significance using an established evaluation framework
- Support efforts from groups seeking to add properties or landmarks to the National Register of Historic Places
The NSHPO says it hopes the tool will also assist agencies, local governments, students, advocacy groups, preservation non-profits, and other interested parties in identifying and designating historic sites and cultural resources. That designation, it says, can increase not only visibility, but also access to funding and other opportunities.
For more information and to view the resource, visit www.shpo.nv.gov/AfricanAmericanCivilRights.
