$3.1 million doled out for historic preservation

CARSON CITY -- Las Vegas' old federal building-post office and Virginia City's old Fourth Ward School are among beneficiaries of $3.1 million in grants for historic preservation projects awarded by a state commission.

The $350,000 grant for the Las Vegas project was the largest awarded this year by the Nevada Commission for Cultural Affairs, which announced the latest round of grants Friday.

The old federal building-post office opened in 1933 as part of a massive government building effort associated with the construction of Boulder Dam, now known as Hoover Dam. The city of Las Vegas is restoring the downtown building as a museum and cultural center.

The Fourth Ward School project, which has received money annually since the state grants program was created 14 years ago, was awarded $120,000 to finish the job.

The school will house an archive to preserve and provide access to documents dating from the 19th century Comstock mining days.

Another popular tourist attraction in Virginia City, Piper's Opera House, was given $110,000. But more funding will be needed to restore the floor and complete work on the basement.

In Reno, the commission voted $102,000 to begin restoration of the Fleischmann planetarium on the University of Nevada, Reno campus.

The grant was awarded for the project on the condition that UNR and the Board of Regents commit to restoring the structure.