State Museum to offer free admission Saturday

With a sneak peek at an exhibit honoring Western explorer John C. Frémont, the Nevada State Museum will offer free admission from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

To observe Nevada’s 150th birthday celebration, the museum is preparing a collection of items connected to Frémont’s exploration of Nevada Territory into California.

“Visitors can see Frémont’s cannon as it appeared on the 1843-44 Frémont expedition before it was abandoned in nearby West Walker River Canyon,” said Jim Barmore, director of the Nevada State Museum. “No, we can’t shoot it off. You won’t really hear a big bang. But, you’ll see something special.”

In addition to free admission, train rides at Nevada State Railroad Museum will be half-price Saturday.

The cannon and carriage will appear in the museum’s Dema Guinn Concourse until Aug. 10 and will re-appear the end of October for “Finding Frémont: Pathfinder of the West.”

Nevada State Museum is at 600 N. Carson St. and is open every day except Monday. For more information, contact Deborah Stevenson at dstevenson@nevadaculture.org or 775-687-4810, ext. 237, or Jim Barmore at jbarmore@nevadaculture.org or 775-687-4810, ext. 226.