Jackpot, Nevada

While we were visiting the Great Basin National Park, we stayed in the small town of Baker, Nevada.

Baker is home to 68 people according to the 2010 census. It’s very, very small.

But even though it is small, Baker is very, very interesting…

Clock of the Long Now

The Clock of the Long Now, also called the 10,000-year clock, is a proposed mechanical clock designed to keep time for 10,000 years. The project to build the clock is part of the Long Now Foundation. (Learn more…)

In researching this, I found out that one of the prototypes for this clock is built on land that Jeff Bezos (founder and CEO of amazon.com) owns in Texas. Bezos has donated $42 million towards the project.

The final clock will be housed on land near Baker.  (PS You can’t make this stuff up! 🙂 Read more… )

Artists in Residence

You’ll see a number of tongue-in-cheek “fence-art” sculptures along the roads leading to and from Baker. Termed “Post-Impression Art” by local residents (because the art is mounted on fence posts). The movement began in the mid-1990’s when “Doc” Sherman created the “Permanent Wave Society.” This sculpture consisted of rubber gloves filled with cement and mounted on the tops of fence posts. Doc’s artistic endeavors were amazing therapy for him as he was partially paralyzed by a crippling stroke.

At least one of the artists has a very bizarre sense of humor. This work is named “Horse with No Name Mane”.

And it really is a horse, complete with a skull and the two front legs with hooves.

These two lovers are affectionately called Bob and Barb Wire.

Here’s a tribute to the Grate Basin area. 🙂

Apparently this guy was too tall for his grave hole.

Water Fights

Water is a very precious commodity everywhere, and especially in the drought ridden western US. We paused at an exhibit put together by local ranchers and the Nevada Land Trust explaining ranch life, the use of water, and the practices utilized to increase productivity.

Local ranchers completed the display and the artwork inside. The views from the exhibit show the raw, natural beauty of the area. 

Home Means Nevada

Coming back to Nevada has made me realize that I will always consider Nevada home. The snow covered (hopefully) mountains, the fragrant sagebrush, and the miles of uninhabited lands instill a serenity in me.

I was talking with Rich about this as we drove down a dirt road. He agreed.

And then he said, “But there’s one thing I don’t miss about living in Nevada. Look back in the mirror.”

Following us was a HUGE cloud of dust. 🙂

I don’t want to move back, but I will continue to love to visit Nevada because “Home Means Nevada”.