DAVID BAKER / SPECIAL TO THE PVT This expansive bronze sculpture was donated by the former Harvest Fair Committee. It is among a number of new items at the Nye County Museum. DAVID BAKER / SPECIAL TO THE PVT This may be the sword carried by John C. Fremont. As opposed to the presentation swords carried by some famous officers, this is a more practical, workmanlike weapon. Advertisement

If you haven't been to the Pahrump Valley Museum and Historical Society, you're in for a treat.

Slowly, and with a great deal of patience, things are changing at the museum on Basin Avenue. The old Pahrump Store that used to be located behind "Say No To Abuse" off Highway 372 has been brought down to the museum.

There is a new foundation pad being prepared for an expansion of the existing facilities.

This will double the size of display area, and that will make a considerable difference. According to John Weisser, historian at the facility, "Much of what would be available to the public is in storage."

There has been an even more visible change to the exterior. Nine cast bronze pieces have been donated by the former Harvest Fair Committee.

According to Jerry Schuh, "We took the remaining monies from our last Harvest Fair, and bought these bronzes for our county museum. We think they make a wonderful addition to the facility."

One of the pieces in particular caught his eye: "Just look at the boy pushing the girl on the swing set. You just about can't see where they are joined. It's my favorite piece."

A valuable and possibly historically significant donation by Juan Palma, director of the Las Vegas office of the Bureau of Land Management: an unadorned sword and scabbard allegedly owned by John C. Fremont. A display exhibited at the Red Rock Visitor Center and a 19th century flintlock pistol were also donated to the museum. The display and its full-size mannequins are in storage. The sword and pistol are both on display.

Fremont, who became known as "the Pathfinder" and is credited with helping take California from Spanish control in 1846, was one of the more important early explorers in the region. He later served as a Union general during the Civil War, during which his fame subsided considerably.

Some of the easily overlooked pieces are the baskets and pots that have been found in the Pahrump Valley. These hand-made utilitarian objects may not be as eye-catching as a sword, but if you're interested in the people and history of the area, they have their own tales to tell.

For those who thought that anything pre-video game might not be elegant or well-made, come see the cabin that has been built out of rail-road ties. Compact, tidy, it would be a comfortable dwelling today. Come see the Pahrump one-room school house. The museum even has one of the very first attack fire frucks used in the valley.

Another growing collection of note involves World War II memorabilia. Weisser displayed photographs taken during the battle for Iwo Jima.

He shook his head and said, "No names were written on the back of the photos. They were found at the county dump.

"Someone had simply thrown them away. Yet, they were rescued and placed within the museum's collection. Sadly, our World War II vets are dying in growing numbers each day. Photographs and personal effects will soon be the only remnants from that war."