THIS WAS NEVADA: Phillip I. Earl

      "Archaeological Awareness and Historic Preservation Week" is being observed through Saturday by various Nevada communities. Sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Nevada Office of Historic Preservation, the theme this year is "Preservation Begins at Home."
      Boulder City and Las Vegas preservationists are sponsoring a photo exhibit at the Boulder City Library, 813 Arizona St. Cultural resource exhibits and demonstrations will be presented at the Alan Bible Visitors Center at Lake Mead.
      In Las Vegas, Debbie Abele, historic preservation officer for the city of Phoenix, will speak at a meeting of the Preservation Association of Clark County at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the law office of Richard Segerblom, 714 S. Ninth St. Bureau of Land Management personnel will present a program on Ash Springs at a meeting of the Southern Nevada Rock Art Enthusiasts at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North.
      The historic Las Vegas High School, 315 S. Seventh St., and the surrounding residential area will be the focus of a free 90-minute walking tour beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday sponsored by the Preservation Association of Clark County and the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society.
      In Carson City, there will be walking tours of the city's historic district and a reception at the Roberts' House, 1217 N. Carson St. Saturday. On the Comstock, a variety of dramatic presentations, lectures, a parade and tours will be featured. Washoe County will mark the occasion with a "Founder's Day" gathering Friday at the Lake Mansion on the grounds of the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
      Eureka's celebration will include an artifact display and a lecture on Ruby Hill at the Eureka Opera House as well as a tour of the Ruby Hill site Saturday. In Austin there will be exhibits on women in Nevada history at Austin High School and a lecture on "Women at Work" by Christi Shaw on Thursday.
      The historic lecture series at the Gold Hill Hotel will continue weekly through the end of August. Programs will include lectures on "Bottles and Taverns," the Donner party, the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, Nevada myths and realities, Pony Express archaeology, Gold Hill history, borax mining, the Unionville Chinese Riot of 1869, Virginia City's Daughters of Charity and other topics. For a schedule on Gold Hill Hotel programs this summer, call Pat McMaster at (702) 847-0111.
      Complete schedules of all events are available by calling (702) 687-6360.
     
      Phillip I. Earl is curator of history for the Nevada Historical Society.