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A Thousand Miles of Desert and Mountains

prospector

In partnership with the University Libraries, the Washoe County Library System is offering a virtual exploration of a Special Collections and University Archives collection entitled A Thousand Miles of Desert and Mountains. The series, aimed at fourth through seventh graders but appropriate for all ages, will explore a set of diaries written by two prospectors as they traveled across Nevada in search of the next big bonanza.

You can also access all three volumes of the diary:

Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3

A Thousand Miles of Desert and Mountains is also available as a reading challenge.

Learn more about the project and the difference between primary and secondary sources with this introductory video:

Episode 1

In this episode of A Thousand Miles of Desert and Mountains, George and Josephine are striking out on their journey, leaving their home in Orangevale, California and heading for Byron, Nevada. DeLaMare Earth Sciences and Maps Librarian Chrissy Klenke teaches a quick segment on the four key elements of maps.

Listen to Podcast Read Transcript See Worksheet Worksheet Extras Maps and Scale

Episode 2

In this episode of A Thousand Miles of Desert and Mountains, George and Josephine have reached Las Vegas, Nevada and meet Mr. Condee who is outfitting them with a new pack saddle for Jack.

Listen to Podcast Read Transcript See Worksheet Worksheet Extras Maps Extras

Episode 3

In this episode of A Thousand Miles of Desert and Mountains, George and Josephine are in Indian Springs, Nevada in early spring 1914. They are searching for the ever elusive gold.

Listen to Podcast Read Transcript See Worksheet Worksheet Extras Maps Extras

Episode 4

In this episode of A Thousand Miles of Desert and Mountains, George and Josephine have reached Amargosa, Nevada and are having some luck with their prospecting.

Listen to Podcast Read Transcript See Worksheet Worksheet Extras

Episode 5

In this episode of A Thousand Miles of Desert and Mountains, George and Josephine are still in Amargosa, Nevada and are learning more about the area, courtesy of their new friend, William G. Morris.

Listen to Podcast Read Transcript See Worksheet Worksheet Extras

Episode 6

In this episode of 1000 Miles of Desert and Mountains, George and Josephine have concluded their time in Amargosa, Nevada and are packing up and making arrangements for the next leg of their adventure.

Listen to Podcast Read Transcript See Worksheet Worksheet Extras

Episode 7

In this episode of 1000 Miles of Desert and Mountains, George and Josephine are in Goldfield, Nevada in late summer 1914 and are figuring out the next leg of their trip while tensions in Europe are rising.

Listen to Podcast Read Transcript See Worksheet Worksheet Extras

Episode 8

In this final episode of 1000 Miles of Desert and Mountains, George and Josephine are one mile south of Bridgeport and must figure out how to convince the burros to cross the East Walker River as they make their way into California.

Listen to Podcast Read Transcript See Worksheet Worksheet Extras

A joint project of the Special Collections and University Archives and the Washoe County Library System, the 1,000 Miles Project brings to life three diaries from George and Josephine Scott's 1914 Nevada prospecting trip. The first-hand account of their trek across Nevada provides an entertaining and engaging way to study history and serves up concepts across all disciplines.

The project touches on Nevada history, mining, geology, ecology, art, migration and settlement, World War I, and geography, and is structured to also provide skills in map literacy and understanding primary sources.

The project consists of an introductory video and eight video episodes, with each episode having a corresponding podcast, worksheet, and extra resources page. The project seeks to primarily engage fourth through seventh graders, but is suitable for a wide range of ages. For older students, the podcasts can be used in conjunction with the complete collection of digitized diaries, all available online

Each video episode is built around a passage from the diaries, and feature a short lesson by a guest speaker. The line-up includes authors Michael Branch and Terri Farley, range ecologist and research scientist Tiffany Pereira, artist and educator Emily Reid, Keck Museum curator Garrett Barmore, and the University Libraries' very own Dr. Kim Anderson and Chrissy Klenk.

The accompanying podcasts are the complete diary passages that correspond to each episode, read by actor and poet Jeremiah G. Nelson.

The worksheets provide writing prompts and questions relating back to the diary passage and the guest speakers' lessons, and accompanying "extras" sheets provide additional resources for further exploration of concepts covered.