Nevada: A History of the Silver State

Michael S. Green, a leading Nevada historian, provides a detailed survey of the Silver States past, from the arrival of the early European explorers, to the predominance of mining in the 1800s, to the rise of world-class tourism in the twentieth century, and to more recent attempts to diversify the economy.

Of the numerous themes central to Greens analysis of Nevadas history, luck plays a significant role in the states growth. The miners and gamblers who first visited the state all bet on luck. Today, the biggest contributor to Nevadas tourist economy, gaming, still relies on that same belief in luck. Nevadas financial system has generally been based on a one industry economy, first mining and, more recently, gaming. Green delves deeply into the limitations of this structure, while also exploring the theme of exploitation of the land and the overuse of the states natural resources.

Green covers many more aspects of the Silver States narrative, including the dominance of one region of the state over another, political forces and corruption, and the citizens often tumultuous relationship with the federal government. The book will appeal to scholars, students, and other readers interested in Nevada history. See more