Created in 1968, the 10,000 square foot museum is an impressive storehouse of artifacts detailing the development and history of Churchill County. It is a credit to director Sharon Taylor and the people of Fallon that the museum provides such a complete picture.

Historians have long known the Fallon area is an important nexus in man's development in the West. Before the arrival of settlers, Native American people resided around the marshes and giant inland sea that once covered the area.

One of the best exhibits at the museum is a detailed display about Hidden Cave, an archaeological site with a 21,000-year stratigraphy (meaning that scientists can trace soil samples and fossils dating over that many years).

Free tours to Hidden Cave, located about 12 miles from Fallon, are offered through the museum on the second and fourth Saturday of each month at 9:30 a.m.

Additionally, the museum offers exhibits showing later area developments. There are good displays of Indian artifacts and one exhibit includes the remains of a covered wagon and other items used by settlers traveling on the Emigrant Trail through the nearby Forty Mile Desert (the most hazardous part of the trail).

Fallon is also located on the famed Pony Express Trail. The Overland Telegraph replaced the Pony Express riders and followed the same route. One exhibit describes the history of communication in the West and notes that the Overland Telegraph was eventually incorporated into the Churchill County Telephone and Telegraph System, the nation's only county-owned and maintained telephone system (the museum sells souvenir glass telephone insulators that were once part of the system).

The museum also contains a display telling the history of the Newlands Water Project, the nation's first federal reclamation project in 1902. This irrigation system created the nearby Lahontan Reservoir and provides water for area farmers.

Outside the museum building, you can also find a number of unique displays that further illustrate the area's history.

For example, there are samples of ancient Indian petroglyphs (rock writings) and the restored Woodliff Novelty Store, once a well-known Fallon business that served the local community over a century ago.

Reflecting the area's abundant agricultural roots, there is also a large collection of farming equipment, including a 1903 Case Steam Traction engine.

The museum has a small gift shop that offers one of the most complete collections of historic books about Nevada.

To reach the museum, drive east of Carson City for about an hour on Highway 50. Once in Fallon, turn right on Maine Street (it really should be called Main Street, but they like to do things a little differently in Fallon) and you'll find the museum at 1050 So. Maine St.

Of course, besides the museum, another reason to visit Fallon is to pick up some of the region's renowned produce. Fallon is the home of the Hearts of Gold cantaloupe, one of the juiciest and tastiest melons ever grown. Several local produce stores offer the Hearts of Gold in season (generally late summer), including Workman's Produce on Highway 50.

Fallon celebrates its famous melons each year during the Cantaloupe Festival, held each Labor Day weekend.

While driving through Fallon, also take note of the old Churchill County Courthouse, located at the intersection of Highway 50 and Maine Street. The building, constructed in 1903, was the last wooden courthouse still used in Nevada until the county offices moved in 1998.

The Churchill County Museum and Archives is open six days a week (closed Thursday). For more information call 702-423-3677.