Nevadans for Cultural Preservation

September 2025

NVFCP Collaborates with LCAT on Ash Springs Petroglyph Tours

As the Lincoln County Authority of Tourism (LCAT) works to develop a variety of new guided excursions around the county, NVFCP was honored to be invited to contribute to their efforts—specifically by sharing insight and stewardship guidance at the Ash Springs Petroglyph Site.

Before jumping in, we coordinated with the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees this publicly interpreted site, to ensure our involvement aligned with their management goals.

During the orientation for LCAT’s tour leaders, we provided deeper context around the cultural and environmental significance of Ash Springs. This site sits within a region that has seen human occupation for over 12,000 years, shaped by a shifting climate and the increasing importance of year-round water sources like the Ash Springs hot spring. These waters, along with others in the region, feed into the Pahranagat Valley, a landscape now known for its ranching heritage and as the home of the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge.

Our primary message during the tour? Respect the site. Leave all artifacts, petroglyphs, and natural features undisturbed. While NVFCP will not receive any profit from future tours of Ash Springs—we feel commercialization doesn’t support our mission at this time—we strongly believe in the educational value of guided interpretation. When visitors understand the stories behind these places, they’re far more likely to protect them. Even something as simple as taking a rock can erase a piece of history.

We’re excited to support tourism efforts that prioritize education, preservation, and responsible visitation, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to help shape this new chapter for Lincoln County.

August 2025

Navigating Partnerships: An Introduction to the Tribal Liaison Role and Tribal Consultation

Speaker's Series Presentation

Dr. Kathrina Aben, Archaeologist/District Tribal Liaison for the Bureau of Land Management

This talk was an introduction to the vital role of tribal liaisons in federal agencies. Tribal liaisons serve as important bridges between the U.S. government and tribal sovereign nations and communities, ensuring that the government carries out its trust responsibilities through the inclusion of Native values, beliefs, and practices in the management of public land. We will discuss the role of tribal liaisons, define what is tribal consultation, understand the legal and ethical necessities, and explore best practices. An understanding of this critical role and consultation process will help to enrich archaeological practices by recognizing the importance that cultural landscapes, places, and archaeological sites have in the daily lives of Native communities.

No recording available for this presentation.

August 2025

This Labor Day weekend, NVFCP was thrilled to host a fascinating presentation in one of Nevada’s most iconic venues—the historic Thompson’s Opera House in Pioche. With the cool comfort of air conditioning and over 70 curious minds in attendance, we welcomed Jeff Wedding, archaeologist with the Desert Research Institute, for a deep dive into the archaeological investigations of the Union Pacific’s Salt Lake Line in Southern Nevada.

Jeff took the audience on a journey through time, exploring the rise of the railroad in the region and revealing how archaeologists have uncovered and mapped historic worker camps that once lined the tracks. From forgotten encampments to the legacy of industrial expansion, it was a powerful reminder of the hidden stories just beneath our feet.

A huge thank you to Jeff for sharing his knowledge and passion—and to everyone who joined us for this special event. It’s moments like these that bring the past to life and remind us why preserving Nevada’s cultural heritage matters.

Illustration of a railroad camp below.

August 2025

Labor Day weekend, NVFCP brought the spirit of stewardship to one of Nevada’s most unique celebrations—the 2025 Pioche Labor Day Festival! Our outreach booth was buzzing with energy as we connected with festival-goers about the importance of responsible visitation and the preservation of the incredible sites that make Lincoln County so special.

From lawnmower races to street dancing and classic parades, visitors from far and wide flocked to Pioche to join the fun. We were thrilled to add to the excitement with a special NVFCP-hosted event at the historic Thompson's Opera House, where history and heritage took center stage.

A heartfelt thanks to Lois Etzel for her invaluable help throughout the weekend—your support made a big difference!

Here’s to keeping Nevada’s cultural treasures protected and appreciated for generations to come!

See a photo of Digger the tortoise hanging out at our booth below.

August 2025

Rayette Martin, with the dedicated support of trained volunteer Lois Etzel, took bold action against a surge of graffiti threatening the ancient rock art of the White River Narrows Archaeological District. Their restoration efforts, fully approved by the Archaeologist for the Basin and Range National Monument, aimed to protect and preserve this irreplaceable cultural landscape.

To outpace the intense summer heat, the team camped on-site and rose before dawn, working in the cooler hours to tackle the damage. Vandals had recklessly scratched over petroglyphs and pictographs—some thousands of years old—and defaced nearby rock surfaces with marker ink and even nail polish. Despite the scorching temperatures, the urgency was clear: the faster the damage is removed, the less likely it is to attract further vandalism.

While some of the worst-hit areas were close to the road, the team also discovered spray-painted rocks in more remote locations. Cleanup of those sites is being carefully scheduled for when daytime highs drop below 90 degrees, ensuring both safety and effectiveness.

Image: Left - enhanced to see the pictograph pigments under the scratched graffiti, Center - before photo without enhancement, Right - after the treatment was completed.

July 2025

Monthly Speaker Series Presentation

Art Krupicz - State Historic Preservation Officer

Nevada has a unique history, as well as a diverse historic preservation community working to save our important old places. The State Historic Preservation Office is one part of that community. This discussion is an introduction to Nevada’s new historic preservation officer, and an exploration of how “The SHPO” office collaborates with Nevada. Collaboration is especially critical now, as social programs of all kinds are questioned or reimagined. We discuss different visions for advancing historic preservation in Nevada, and how we can best work to preserve our history.

To watch a video of this presentation on our YouTube click here.

July 2025

On July 10th, NVFCP had the opportunity to showcase our recent graffiti removal and educational initiatives within the Basin and Range National Monument. Pictured is Executive Director Rayette Martin discussing two completed signage projects designed to educate visitors and protect cultural resources.

Other presenters shared insightful summaries from the BioBlitz recordings, while Stratum Unlimited delivered an engaging presentation on their work documenting and establishing the chronology of petroglyph and pictograph sites in the White River Narrows and Mt. Irish Archaeological Districts.

We also took time to celebrate the BLM staff and partnering organizations—such as Friends of Basin and Range National Monument—for their hard work and dedication to managing and preserving this unique landscape.

If you weren't aware, the monument designation does not limit traditional uses such as livestock grazing and watering by ranchers. In fact, hunting, camping, and other forms of recreation are encouraged. Visitors can explore the 704,000-acre monument via many miles of two-track and graded roads.

A Mural in a Vault Toilet? Why Not!

Yes, you read that right—there's now a vibrant mural inside the vault toilet at Mt. Irish Campground!

This unexpected art installation is the handiwork of NVFCP President Katie Hoffman and her college-aged kiddo, who teamed up to brighten up the bathroom with a splash of local color—literally. The mural features a lively array of native plants and animals, all of which are also highlighted on interpretive panels set to be installed this fall along the connected 1.5-mile trail.

The mural, titled "Morning View," draws inspiration from the quiet, wild beauty of waking up at the campground. It’s tough to capture in a photo just how immersive and delightful the scene is when viewed from the “throne”—you really have to experience it for yourself!

As you take a seat, see if you can spot all the featured flora and fauna: the elusive pinyon jay, the quick-footed black-tailed jackrabbit, the antelope ground squirrel, graceful mule deer, blooming blackbrush, and the iconic single-leaf pinyon pine.

Pro tip: The mule deer won’t reveal itself right away—it’s only visible after you enter and turn to face the exit. Just one of the mural’s playful surprises!

So next time you're at Mt. Irish, don't just pass by the restroom—step inside and enjoy this one-of-a-kind wilderness gallery!

June 2025

NVFCP was thrilled to join the party at the 10-year anniversary celebration of the Basin & Range National Monument—and what a celebration it was! There was an awesome turnout and the event doubled as a BioBlitz, where citizen scientists teamed up with experts of every -ology (think ecology, biology, botany—you name it!) to document the incredible biodiversity of the monument.

By day, teams spread out across the landscape spotting, recording, and sampling everything from wildflowers to wildlife. Lizards were skillfully wrangled with special poles and snakes made surprise appearances along the roads. By night, things got even more exciting! Traps were set for small mammals and bats were netted at watering holes.

All this data wasn’t just for fun (though it was a blast)—scientists also took measurements, samples, and notes to help answer real research questions about the monument’s ecosystems. Nearly 1,000 observations and 268 species were logged into iNaturalist. Not bad for a weekend’s work!

The heart of the action was Mt. Irish Campground, nestled within the stunning 640-acre Mt. Irish Archaeological District just west of Hiko, NV. On day one, NVFCP kicked things off with a cultural resource preservation briefing to make sure everyone knew how to explore responsibly. We also set up an outreach booth featuring local artifacts, sparking curiosity and encouraging volunteers to check out some of Lincoln County’s incredible public rock writing sites.

Nature, science, archaeology, and a little adventure—now that’s our kind of celebration!