By Phyllis Benson
The History of Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is a federal park located in Nevada. The park is within a great natural basin that covers most of Nevada and parts of neighboring states. The park is home to caves, desert and mountain ranges.
Historic Tribes
American Indians have lived in the ancient Great Basin region for thousand of years. Archeologists identified big-game hunting Paleo-Indians, hunter-gatherer Desert Archaic tribes, and Fremont and Shoshone Indians, who more recently came to the basin.
Explorers
In the 1800s, European and American explorers traveled across Nevada. They brought silver and gold miners to the region. The Johnson Lake Mine, now part of the park, operated into the 20th century.
Settlers
Ranchers and farmers followed miners and settled into the area. The region appears desolate but supports livestock and agriculture in addition to abundant wildlife.
Lehman Caves
In 1885, a local rancher discovered a large marble cave filled with stalagmites and other cave formations. The large cavern became a national monument in 1922 and drew tourists to the remote area. It is now part of Great Basin National Park.
Designation
Great Basin National Park was created in 1986. Its 77,000 acres range from prehistoric Indian sites and mining camps to ancient bristlecone pine trees and 13,000-foot Wheeler Peak.
About the Author:
Phyllis Benson is a professional writer and creative artist. Her 25-year background includes work as an editor, syndicated reporter and feature writer for publications including "Journal Plus," "McClatchy Newspapers" and "Sacramento Union." Benson earned her Bachelor of Science degree at California Polytechnic University.
Photo Credits:
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, GNU Free Documentation License
