Name/Title
Library/Museum being build by NYA circa 1938-1940Entry/Object ID
1988.323.0037Description
#1 On The Walking Tour
Picture of Library/Museum being build by NYA circa 1938-1940, Walter H. Hughes, building supervisor.
Building the structure that houses the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum was a national Youth Administration (NYA) project. The NYA was one of the New Deal programs originated during the Great Depression by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its goal was to keep young people in school by teaching them skills. Construction of the building began circa 1938 and was completed circa 1941. Dedication ceremonies were held circa 1942. In 1991, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is significant 1) as one of only two known surviving examples of NYA activities in Nevada, and 2) as one of only two known examples of Pueblo Revival style architecture in Nevada.
The original purpose of the building was to serve the community as a library and museum. It served as the Mesquite branch of the Clark County Library for about a year. It was then converted to and used as a hospital until 1977. After being closed for a few years, it was used as a Boy Scout meeting hall. In 1984, the newly incorporated City of Mesquite reclaimed it and designated it a museum to house the historical treasures of the Virgin Valley. Named the Desert Valley Museum, it was officially opened in 1985. In 2001 the name was changed to Virgin Valley Heritage Museum.
The one-story L-shaped building rests on a concrete foundation and has 1 1/2 foot thick rubble walls filled with clay, gravel, and bailing wire. The floors are of cement and flagstone. The roof is composed of pine, which support the roof sheathing. Most of the building material was found locally.
On the grounds are The Old Spanish Trail, site No. 31 historical marker, and Nevada State Park System's Virgin Valley State Historical marker No. 56
Also other pictures of museum and as a hospital