American Indian Heritage

Stewart Indian School

The Stewart Indian School served as the only off-reservation Indian boarding school in Nevada from 1890 through 1980, and its stone buildings are an icon of education and life for many American Indians in the West. In 1985 the school was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District and is currently managed by the State of Nevada.

We are excited to announce that the former Stewart Administration Building will soon be renovated into our new Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum, thanks to funding by Governor Brian Sandoval and the Nevada State Legislature. Source: stewartindianschool.com

In addition to the Stewart Indian School, many cultural events celebrating the American Indian heritage, history and pride are held in Carson City throughout the year. The Stewart Father’s Day Powwow brings the Stewart Indian School to life again with hundreds of dancers, Native American art, Native American crafts, and famous Indian Tacos. Click to learn more about the Father’s Day Pow Wow here.

Dat So La Lee

Louisa Keyser, also known as Dat So La Lee, is the most famous Washoe Indian basket weaver. Dat So La Lee was born in the Woodfords area (25 miles south of Carson City) in the first half of the 19th century, before European Americans settled Nevada. At that time, Washoe women would weave baskets to cook and store food, winnow seeds and carry infants. Dat So La Lee moved to Carson City late in life, in 1895, offering small baskets for sale to the owner of an emporium there. This owner, Abe Cohn, became Dat So La Lee’s main benefactor and promoter, building this small vernacular board-and-batten cottage for her around 1914. It is located directly east of Abe and Amy Cohn’s house.

From that time until her death in 1925, Abe and Amy Cohn supported Dat So La Lee so that she could concentrate on making her superb baskets to sell to tourists and collectors, becoming internationally known. Even during her lifetime, Dat So La Lee’s baskets sold for thousands of dollars, a large sum for the early 20th century. Dat So La Lee was the undisputed master of a craft that was at the same time dying in her culture. It is for this reason that Dat So La Lee is

so important to modern Washoes and other American Indian weavers; she was an inspiration to young women and girls who wanted to learn the ancient art of basket-weaving, and still is today. Her baskets can be found at the Smithsonian, the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, and the Nevada Historical Society in Reno.

Nevada State Museum

The museum’s “Under One  Sky” exhibit tells the story of Nevada’s American Indian culture from the perspective of local American Indians as well as the scientific community. The museum is also home to many other compelling artifacts from Northern Paiute author Sarah Winnemucca & Dat So La Lee.