Exotic Hawthorne

Many of you have wondered aloud or in your minds (you know you have) about where I'm spending Thanksgiving. You have wondered about little Hawthorne, Nevada and wondered why I would drive all the way across barren wilderness to be there (don't worry, so does my husband). I've spent more Thanksgivings here than any other place I'd wager.

Hawthorne is located near the Nevada-California border and was established in 1881. It sits at an elevation of 4,255 feet and is surrounded by several mountain ranges that protect it from extreme weather allowing for nearly 365 days of sunshine a year and relatively mild temperatures. My dad spent most of his growing up years here and if I had time I'd pull out some of his old school photos. He was (IS!) quite a handsome guy and my kids resemble him quite a bit.

Hawthorne is called “America’s Patriotic Home,” and the red, white and blue streets and flags blowing in the wind are testament to the town’s great national pride. Part of this pride is rooted in the Hawthorne Army Depot, an ammunition storage site.

Construction began on the facility in 1928 and it served as an ammunition staging area for World War II. It is said to be the largest facility of its kind in the world, covering more than 147,000 acres. Today, the depot employs a large majority of the residents of Hawthorne.

The Hawthorne Ordnance (not Ordinance. There's a difference. Look it up.) Museum is a great place to see some of this ammunition up close, and see a variety of military uniforms, photos and memorabilia. My grandparents have put A LOT of effort into building up this museum. I'm looking forward to seeing it again. I imagine they've done a lot with it in 5 years.

One of the saddest little cemetaries I've ever seen is in Hawthorne.

Walker Lake, fed from the north by the Walker River, is the heart of outdoor recreation in Hawthorne. This lake was once part of the Lahontan Sea, a prehistoric sea that covered much of Nevada and is now home to several species of water birds, including loons, and the Lahontan cutthroat trout.

(boaters on Walker Lake circa. 1910)

(me at Walker Lake circa. 1977)

The ultimate reason I go to Hawthorne, Nevada is for my wonderful family!!!

My cousin Summer means everything to me and it is here that we usually get to see one another.I'm looking forward to meeting approximately four new spouses (of my cousins) and approximately five new kiddo-cousins. And my grandparents? I just love being near them. They are both towers of strength and wonder to me.

(thanks to the Nevada Bureau of Tourism for much of the information here)