Nevada Day: A Tradition Rooted in State Pride
Provided by Friends of Sutro Tunnel Charity – Nevada Day stands as one of the Silver State’s proudest traditions — a celebration of heritage, resilience, and community that traces its roots back more than nine decades. With the Nevada Day Parade celebrating 161 years of Statehood on Saturday, November 1, 2025, we thought we would share some history of this Grand Event and how it ties to Dayton!
In 1933, the Nevada State Legislature passed a bill introduced by Senator Ira L. Winters of Carson City, officially designating October 31 as “Nevada Day,” commemorating the state’s admission to the Union in 1864. The legislation also made the date a discretionary holiday, allowing citizens across the state to take part in parades, pageants, and gatherings honoring Nevada’s rich history and pioneer spirit.
By 1937, however, enthusiasm for the celebration had begun to fade. That year’s parade and other festivities were held in Reno on Sunday, October 31, but financial constraints and waning support threatened to end the tradition altogether.
That’s when two visionary Nevadans — Thomas C. Wilson and Judge Clark Guild — stepped forward to rekindle the spirit of Nevada Day. With the backing of the Carson City Rotary, Lions Club, and 20-30 Club, they moved the “Admissions Day” celebration to Carson City in 1938. Their efforts revitalized the event, transforming it into a community-wide celebration that continues to thrive to this day.
Judge Clark Guild’s contributions extended far beyond the parade. A proud Native Nevadan, who was born in Dayton in 1887, he founded the Nevada State Museum in 1939 — an institution dedicated to preserving and sharing the state’s natural and cultural heritage. Guild served as the museum’s chairman and benefactor until his death, leaving behind a lasting legacy that continues to educate and inspire future generations. He also served as Lyon County’s District Attorney. He, and other family members, are buried in the historic Dayton NV cemetery.
That legacy lives on today through his great grand-daughter, Jennifer Russell, who serves as Honorary Co-Chair of the Tunnel Vision Major Gifts Campaign for the Friends of Sutro Tunnel Charity. Russell’s involvement continues her family’s long tradition of civic leadership and dedication to preserving Nevada’s history. Her grandfather, Charles Hinton Russell, served as Nevada’s governor from 1950-1958. Additionally, her grandfather’s uncle, George Ernst, worked as a schoolteacher in Dayton in 1863 and also engaged in civil engineering. In 1864, Ernst was the first to suggest to Adolph Sutro, the feasibility of the enterprise resulting in the construction of the famous Sutro Tunnel, and to him is accorded the honor of making the first survey, locating the tunnel and shafts. He and Ellen Mary Hinton (from Birmingham, England) were married in Dayton on October 1,1865. (Special thanks to Sutro historian Dan Webster for his research on the Ernst family.)
In 2000, the Nevada Legislature decided to celebrate the holiday on a Friday, hoping that a three-day weekend would generate more interest. The change was supported by voters in a 1998 referendum, as it was intended to increase interest in the celebration and provide a long weekend for state employees and other residents. (For those of us who grew up in Carson City, the parade is in our DNA and making it a three day weekend was pure GOLD!)
Nevada Day is now observed on the last Friday in October. But most of the big events in Carson City, including the parade, occur on the following Saturday.
Today, the Nevada Day Parade remains the centerpiece of the state’s annual celebration, drawing tens of thousands of visitors to Carson City each year. Floats, marching bands, and community organizations come together to honor the people and history that make Nevada unique — carrying forward the vision and pride that began nearly a century ago.
The parade starts at 10am on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in our state capital, Carson City! The theme is the Wild Wild West. We’ll see you there!
About Friends of Sutro Tunnel Charity
Preserving History | Building Legacy
The Friends of Sutro Tunnel Charity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sustaining the historic Sutro Tunnel and Site, honoring its remarkable mining history while transforming it into a vibrant destination for tourism, education, and recreation—a treasured landmark for visitors of all ages and generations to come.
