Nevada, Clark County, Laughlin
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Seeking to open a land route between the Missions of Sonora and California, Fray Francisco Hermenegildo Garcés, OFM, a Franciscan Missionary priest and explorer, was the first European to enter the present boundaries of Nevada. He departed Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson in October of 1775, and by late February of 1776, the Spanish-Franciscan friar had reached the Mohave villages located just south of this location on the banks of the Colorado River. Garcés was now traveling in areas never before seen by non-Native American.
Relying on Native American guides, he walked from village to village. The Mohave agreed to lead him to the Pacific coast along a route used for trade purposes. It was from this general location on March 4, 1776, accompanied by four natives, that Garcés left the banks of the Colorado and set out across the Mojave Desert. He reached Mission San Gabriel Archangel 20 days later. Upon his return, he again visited the Mohave villages in this vicinity in May of 1776. His route followed a much older prehistoric trail used to bring shells and other trade goods to the tribes of the desert and mountain west. On July 19, 1781, in a Quechan revolt against Spanish forces, Father Garces was killed at La Purisima Concepcion Mission near the Yuma Crossing. Padre Garces body was later interred in the Franciscan church of the Colegio de la Santa Cruz, Queretaro, Mexico.
"Greater love hath no man than this -- That a man lay down his life for his friends."
Excerpts from Father Garcés Diary:
"I proceeded three leagues of the course northwest with some turns to the west-northwest. I observed this locality to be in 35' 01', and named it San Pedro de los Jamajabes in this situation and that below are good mesas for the foundation of missions, and though they are near the river, they are free from inundation."
Father Garces Entrance into Nevada, (March 3, 1776)
"March 4, on which was made the observation noted on the 3rd day. I departed, accompanied by three Jamajab Indians and by Sevastian on a course southwest and at two leagues and a half arrived at some wells (which I named Posos de San Casimiro). There is some grass."
Father Garcés Departure from Nevada, (March 4, 1776)
(Exploration • Native Americans) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Seeking to open a land route between the Missions of Sonora and California, Fray Francisco Hermenegildo Garcés, OFM, a Franciscan Missionary priest and explorer, was the first European to enter the present boundaries of Nevada. He departed Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson in October of 1775, and by late February of 1776, the Spanish-Franciscan friar had reached the Mohave villages located just south of this location on the banks of the Colorado River. Garcés was now traveling in areas never before seen by non-Native American. Relying on Native American guides, he walked from village to village. The Mohave agreed to lead him to the Pacific coast along a route used for trade purposes. It was from this general location on March 4, 1776, accompanied by four natives, that Garcés left the banks of the Colorado and set out across the Mojave Desert. He reached Mission San Gabriel Archangel 20 days later. Upon his return, he again visited the Mohave villages in this vicinity in May of 1776. His route followed a much older prehistoric trail used to bring shells and other trade goods to the tribes of the desert and mountain west. On July 19, 1781, in a Quechan revolt against Spanish forces, Father Garces was killed at La Purisima Concepcion Mission near the Yuma Crossing. Padre Garces body was later interred in the Franciscan church of the Colegio de la Santa Cruz, Queretaro, Mexico.
"Greater love hath no man than this -- That a man lay down his life for his friends."
Excerpts from Father Garcés Diary:
"I proceeded three leagues of the course northwest with some turns to the west-northwest. I observed this locality to be in 35' 01', and named it San Pedro de los Jamajabes in this situation and that below are good mesas for the foundation of missions, and though they are near the river, they are free from inundation."
Father Garces Entrance into Nevada, (March 3, 1776)
"March 4, on which was made the observation noted on the 3rd day. I departed, accompanied by three Jamajab Indians and by Sevastian on a course southwest and at two leagues and a half arrived at some wells (which I named Posos de San Casimiro). There is some grass."
Father Garcés Departure from Nevada, (March 4, 1776)
(Exploration • Native Americans) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Space Launch Complex 10
JPPM archaeologists had long known that a stone house foundation, overgrown with weeds, sat in the woods in front of you. But who had lived there was a mystery. Then in 1996, two former local residents---Daniel and Minnie Octavia Gross Brown---were interviewed by JPPM staff. Daniel described walking through the woods in the 1940s going from the St. Leonard Creek house of Minnie Octavia’s mother to his job at the Patterson Farm (now JPPM). Along the way he passed the ruined cabin of his wife’s great-great grandmother, a formerly enslaved woman named Sukeek. Armed with this vital piece of family tradition, archaeologists began to study the site in detail. Oral history, like that provided by the Browns, and their relatives, can reveal valuable information that is not available from any other source.
The Maryland Archaeological Conservation (MAC) Laboratory is a state-of-the-art archaeological research, conservation and collections facility. Opened in 1998, the Lab holds the State’s archaeological artifact collections. In the labs, the often fragile artifacts are stabilized, cleaned and conserved for future study and exhibition. Suitable temperature and humidity conditions are carefully maintained and monitored in the collections storage area to protect Maryland’s rich archaeological heritage. By analyzing these artifacts and their sites, archaeologists here have uncovered new and valuable information about our past.
Southern Maryland was a dangerous place to live in the hot summer of 1814. British raiding parties traveled the Patuxent River and swept through the countryside terrorizing civilians and taking provisions for British troops gathering in the area. They also hoped to flush out Joshua Barney, whose Chesapeake Flotilla was just out of reach up the Patuxent. 
Terror reigned along the Patuxent River in 1814. British invaders plundered and burned towns and plantations on both sides of the river. Menacing warships within view on Somervell’s Island (present-day Solomons) blockaded the river’s mouth, cutting off trade and trapping Commodore Joshua Barney’s Chesapeake Flotilla. 
The Pioneer Preacher of American Methodism purchased from John England, Sr. this house and farm March 2, 1773. A part of England's Chance and Brother's Inheritance, on which he had lived for 13 years since his coming to American 1760. Here he formed The First Class of Methodism
John Evans, his wife Eleanor Evans, his nephew Job Evans, and Mary Evans his wife, Nancy Murphy and Mrs. Hoy, “Here Mr. Strawbridge formed the first society in Maryland and America.” From Asbury's Journal, May 5, 1801. 
