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 newly renovated facility.
The event began with a welcome from Park Interpreter Kristin Sanderson, who thanked Gizmo Art and Ralph Appelbaum Associates, as well as the many volunteers who helped bring the vision to life. Kristin then introduced Park Supervisor Scott Egy, who welcomed everyone to the grand reopening. Egy, who has been with Fort Churchill State Park since 2012, shared his excitement about offering the updated space — which now features air conditioning for the first time.
The new exhibit area 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 visual demonstrations of what life may have been like during that time in history. The National Pony Express Association, Nevada Division, brought out three ponies and performed a live demonstration of mochila exchange, with crowd participants enthusiastically chanting “rider in” and “rider out” as riders completed the relay.
The Fort Churchill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a laundry station where guests could experience firsthand the joys (and challenges) of washing clothes by hand. Wagon rides were available throughout the park to shuttle visitors between parking areas and the activity zones — marking the first time since the late 1800s that mule-drawn wagons had traveled through the camp.
Guests also enjoyed root beer floats, served in souvenir metal camp cups, along with 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 the addition of new displays to highlight the park’s rich history. The updated exhibits showcase the fort’s significance as a U.S. Army post during the 1860s and its role 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.”
Admission for the reopening event was free, and vehicle entry fees were waived. For future events and information, visit parks.nv.gov/events.
