7-1-2020 Ely, NV Part II

The fun begins!  First, it was lunch on the outdoor patio at Margarita’s.   My sopa de camarones (shrimp soup) was excellent and the margarita was so cold I got brain freeze.  The canopies draped above the patio and tables reminded us fondly of those in Spain where they are spread everywhere, over streets, patios and bridges to provide protection from the blistering sun.  Others loved the pretty patio, too.  At another table, eight cops in full array were just finishing and getting ready to leave.  As they walked away, we thanked them for all they do.

The rotary snowplow at the railroad museum

Lindy and old # 40

The Northern Nevada Railway National Historic Landmark is actually an active museum and business where mechanics spend their time maintaining and restoring railway vehicles that are more than one hundred years old.  We were free to walk across the tracks and go anywhere we wished in the dark, greasy factory that smells of oil and dust.  Our main goal was to visit old locomotive # 40.  About a dozen years ago, we signed up, paid the fee, studied and took the written test and then got to drive this locomotive.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and it was wonderful to see the monster still polished and beautiful.  Many other machines, engines and cars sit in the museum factory in various stages of repair and restoration.  The organization depends upon charitable donations and so operates on a shoestring budget and progress is understandably slow.  But you can still drive a locomotive if you decide to do it!

The Station Master's house and office

White Pine Public Museum is another landmark that depends upon visitors and charitable gifts but because of all the recent fuss, it is on its last legs.  We decided, therefore, that paying them a visit was a must.  The museum is focused mostly on artifacts that trace the origins of this area, principally mining equipment.  Several old structures have been moved to this location to stand in protective custody.  The White Pine Station Master’s Office is one such building and there are many original artifacts intact in the living quarters in the back of the building.  On the outdoor grounds of the museum, machinery used for farming, mining and excavation dates back to the 1880s or earlier.

I actually think this is a great idea!  A
noodle roller from the 1800s!

Because of the downturn in the economy, Ely has suffered as other small towns have.  But Ely had an idea to create a new attraction and have devoted time and energy into the concept of becoming the “City of Murals.”  There are 30 murals now on the sides of buildings that depict some facet of the history of this area.  They begin with depictions of the original settlers sowing seeds.  Next, the mining and railroad era, then the Italian immigrants building the Ward Charcoal Kilns and finally, the Basque sheepherding community.  The more recent murals take us up to the present.  It can be a walking tour and the folks provide a map.  We drove portions of the route and it seems to involve maybe 10 miles or more and we are thinking a walking tour might be a bit much.  Best to drive it and afterwards have a cold beer at the old Hotel Nevada.

Pony Express mural

The sheepherder and his flock

A sheepherder's little haven

Finally, our plan was to have dinner in a jail cell at the Cellblock Steakhouse where the dining tables are behind the bars of the original jail cells.  Everybody has to do this once.  In our case, three times, now.  It’s a silly little whimsy.  How often do you eat dinner in a jail cell?  Well, unless it is your last request but I don’t think any of you in my t-log group fall into that category.  Yet.

So what did you do this time, Rob?

Inmates.