Fort Churchill Opens New Visitor Center

Nevada State Parks invited the community to celebrate the grand reopening of the Fort Churchill Visitor Center on Saturday Oct. 4, in front of the renovated facility.

The event began with a welcome from Park Interpreter Kristin Sanderson, who thanked Gizmo Art and Ralph Applebaum Associates, as well as the many volunteers who brought the vision to life. Kristin introduced Park Supervisor Scott Egy, who welcomed everyone to the Grand reopening. Egy has been with Fort Churchill State Park since 2012, and he shared their excitement about offering this updated space, which features air conditioning for the first time. This new exhibit space brings history to life through the voices of the past and interactive displays. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony and cannon salute, performed by the Nevada Civil War Volunteers, followed the welcome speech. Afterward, guests were encouraged to stay, explore, and enjoy a variety of free, family-friendly activities throughout the afternoon.

Visitors experienced the Nevada Civil War Volunteers encampment through hands-on activities and a visual experience of what life may have been like during that time in history. The National Pony Express Association, Nevada Division, brought out three ponies and did a live demonstration of mochila exchange with crowd participants chanting "rider-in" and "rider-out" as the riders completed the exchange. The Fort Churchill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution had a laundry station set up, where many folks experienced firsthand the joy of washing clothes by hand. Wagon rides were available throughout the park to assist in moving from remote parking to the activities, and it was shared that this was the first time since the late 1800s that mule-drawn wagons had traveled through the camp.

Guests also enjoyed Root beer floats, offered in souvenir metal camp cups as a gift, as well as Adobe brick making, Gold panning, and a self-guided scavenger hunt around the ruins, among other fun activities.

The Fort Churchill Visitor Center closed in 2023 for renovations, allowing for new displays to highlight the park's rich history. These displays showcase the fort's significance as a U.S. Army fort during the 1860s and its status as a cultural landmark in Nevada today.

"This project has been a long time in the making, and we're excited to welcome visitors back to the heart of Fort Churchill," said Park Supervisor Scott Egy. "The updated exhibits bring the story of the fort to life, connecting visitors of all ages to Nevada's history." Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the site, sounds, and touch of the new Center.

Admission was free, and vehicle entry fees were waived. All future event information can be found at parks.nv.gov/events.