Ely is by far one of the most unique places in Nevada. This historic town definitely has a lot going for it. It’s home to an endless amount of scrumdiddilyumptious restaurants and it’s a town full of fascinating history. It’s a town that has held on to its rugged western atmosphere and it makes for an awesome place to plan a day trip. However, few people are aware of Ely’s incredible Renaissance Village. This one-of-a-kind village is like taking a journey back in time to the Silver State’s early days. All Nevadans should plan a trip to see it for themselves in order to learn all about Ely’s fascinating beginnings.
Ely is an eclectic town in White Pine County. It's a place rich with history and stories, and it's extremely proud of its roots. The town even contains a Renaissance Village, and it was born out of a desire to preserve this town's fascinating past.
It all began with the formation of the Ely Renaissance Society which was founded in 1999. One of their first projects was the commissioning of several large art murals to cover Ely's buildings. These murals are meant to show life in Ely from historical perspectives.
The murals eventually led to the constructions of Ely's own little Renaissance village. The village is made up of 12 shotgun houses and a barn that actually look like they came straight out of Ely's Old West days.
The houses in the village actually act like a museum and visitors are allowed to go in and check them out. Each house features a different culture that somehow contributed to the formation of Ely as a town.
As you walk through the houses, you can't help but feel like you're intruding on the home of a real 19th century family. The interior of each house is accurately decorated to depict what living quarters might've looked like back in the early days.
The detail that went into decorating the houses is immaculate. Each "exhibit" contains placards with information about how a specific ethnic group influenced Ely's early days. It's really interesting to see how multiple groups of people came together and formed a community.
The goal of the village is to make sure the stories of the many groups of people who built Ely from the ground up don't get lost. In that, it succeeds. This place really feels like living, breathing history.
Reenactments and living history presentations are held annually in the village, along with a handful of other local events dedicated to preserving the arts. This is a fascinating piece of Nevada history that must be experienced.
The Renaissance Village opens in the third weekend of May and doesn't close until the third week in September. For more information, you can visit their website here.
Did you know about this amazing Renaissance Village? Ely has such a fascinating history! Nevada is a pretty great place to be if you’re a history enthusiast. Have you seen this One Place In Nevada Where History Left Its Mark?
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