An annual tradition makes its way back for another year, as Ely, Nevada’s Nevada Northern Railway Museum’s Polar Express prepares for another year of fun.

The train starts in Ely and makes its way to the North Pole. There it gets a visit from Santa before making the trip back into Ely. It’s a great time for everyone involved, as they serve hot chocolate and cookies, and the scenery is magnificent.

The train rides continue until December 30, and make a trip to Ely that much better.

The world’s best ice sculpting and fireworks show hits White Pine County’s frozen Cave Lake in January, 2009. The annual Fire and Ice Show is January 19 and 18, and this year’s event has added some fun to the festivities.

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Several museums and historic depots around Nevada stand as testament to the importance of the railroad in forming and settling the West.

The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is part of a 56-acre railroad complex on U.S. Highway 50 in eastern Nevada. The museum is responsible for more than 60 buildings and structures on the complex, the steam and diesel locomotives, the rolling stock, the track and the historic steam-powered excursion trains. The steam train powers up year-round with special “Polar Express” rides in the snowy winter months.

Trains are so important to the history of Nevada, and the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation, which manages the museum, has worked tirelessly to preserve the railroad in Ely, raising nearly $3.2 million that was invested in the complex and raising another $7.5 million that was invested in trains, rolling stock, infrastructure and tracks. In 2006 the museum received National Historic Landmark status and...

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We’ve been hearing worries that the entire Northern Nevada Railway Museum in Ely is closing. In fact, that is not true. What has been proposed of that the East Ely Railroad Museum, a small section (two of 66 buildings) be closed, while the remainder of the complex will remain open.

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Hotel Nevada: This is the Hotel Nevada from the east side. I really like the mural painted on the side. Photo by Ryan Jerz.As part of our trip to Fire and Ice Charlie Johnston, Nevada Magazine‘s Associate Editor, and I spent a few nights in Ely. Neither of us had ever been there for any significant amount of time, so we were totally unfamiliar with the town.

As you drive into town on Highway 50, you come to what appears to be the old downtown area. The high school is on the immediate right at the edge of town and the buildings look like they have a little history in them. Just a few block in, and visible from the moment you enter town, is the Hotel Nevada. We...

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