Historic grants sought for six county projects

Monday, Feb. 21, 2000 | 11:22 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Commission for Cultural Affairs has been besieged with $8.7 million in requests to preserve historical structures -- including Kiel Ranch and the Boulder Dam Hotel in Southern Nevada -- but the commission has just $2.1 million to hand out.

After the commission meets Thursday and Friday, many of the 30 organizations that have sent in grant requests may go away empty-handed or with considerably less than what they have requested. Six applications have been received from Clark County for a total of $1.6 million.

The Southern Nevada requests include $100,000 from North Las Vegas to restore an adobe structure at Kiel Ranch, the second oldest building in Nevada after the Old Mormon Fort in Las Vegas, which was recently repaired using authentic materials, said Ron James, the state's historic preservation officer.

The Boulder Dam Hotel Association is asking for $136,000 to complete more work on the hotel. James said this should be the final phase of the rehabilitation. Students from the hotel-management school at UNLV will help run the facility.

Huntridge Theater in Las Vegas is asking for $494,000 for restoration work and to pay the mortgage. The cultural center is one of the best attended of those buildings supported by the Cultural Affairs Commission, James said. He estimated it receives 75,000 to 100,000 visitors a year.

Among other applications from Clark County are $228,340 to get a site and start rehabilitation of the Whitehead House by the Junior League of Las Vegas Endowment; the Clark County Museum is asking for $71,200 to rehabilitate its museum depot in Henderson and the Logandale School wants $631,047 for restoration. The Whitehead House is considered an unusual example of early 20th century architecture in Las Vegas, James said.

Cy Ryan covers state government for the Sun. He can be reached at (775) 687-5032.