Elko District Office
| Contacts: | Jan Petersen | , 775-738-1849 | , jpetersen@blm.gov |
"Basque Herders: The End of an Era" Program at the California Trail Center
Elko, Nev.—Learn about the influences of the Basque on Elko’s culture and landscape at a free presentation at the California Trail Center on Sunday, Dec. 9 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Join Kent McAdoo of the University of Nevada, Reno-Extension Service for a slide program on “Basque Herders: The End of An Era,” as McAdoo discusses the influences of the Basque and the reasons behind their decline as workers in the sheep ranching industry.
Children are invited to participate in a Christmas craft activity and can help decorate the Center’s Christmas tree during McAdoo’s presentation.
Visitors will also be able to experience the exhibits highlighting the history of the westward movement from 1841-1869. The gift shop is newly stocked with books, clothing, toys, cookbooks, gift baskets and maps. A commemorative Trail Center Christmas ornament shop is the highlight of the store this season to mark the opening of the Center this past summer.
The California Trail Interpretive Center, operated by the Bureau of Land Management, is eight miles west of Elko at Hunter exit 292. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Trail Center welcomes school and tour groups. Admission is free. Visit www.californiatrailcenter.org or http://on.doi.gov/CTCElko or call (775) 738-1849 for more information.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.