What the Southern Nevada Living History Association is and What it Does
The Southern Nevada Living History Association (SNLHA) is an active "Living History" and "Historic Reenactment" organization. We were formed by like-minded individuals, in order to locally promote realistic first-person military and civilian historical impressions. We are a family oriented group environment, and operate in a "club" based enviroment when the public is not around. We are based on the concepts of:
- Communication,
- Fellowship, and
- Historical Research.
If you are looking for a similar group in Northern Nevada, please contact; the Nevada Civil War Volunteers (NCWV), or the Comstock Civil War Reenactors (CCWR), or the Battle Born Civil War Reenactors (BBCWR). A simple google search or a glance at our Contacts page will point you in the right direction!
The SNLHA is an organization whose membership is made up of individuals who may also belong to other organizations locally, and across the southwest United States. Some of these local groups may be: the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Sons of Veterans Reserve, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Sons of Utah Pioneers, the Sons of the Golden West, the Sons of Spanish-American War Veterans, the American Legion, Sons of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, the Nevada Civil War History Association, the Nevada Civil War Volunteers, the American Civil War Society, Inc., the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America, BSA Venture Crew 1855, and their associate organizations, as well as many being veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.
However we are:
- Not organizationally or legally connected with any of the above mentioned groups even though some individuals might hold membership, position or rank in one or more of them.
- We are a stand alone organization with our own Board of Directors and is not managed, directed, administered, supervised or controlled by any other individual, group or organization. For the sake of authenticity, the SNLHA maintains and recognizes only its own rank structure for its own programs and events. When partnering with other organizations, we naturally come to an advance agreement.
- We adhere to the rules, regulations, safety procedures and rank ratios as published by the American Civil War Society, Inc. as it's basic rule of thumb. This means that by default we support as a minimum, and test to, the saftey standards presented in the Pacific Area Civil War Reenactor "Saftey Rules".
- We promote individuals on the military side based on factors including, but not limited to, organizational need, personal competence, demeanor, and length of service within the SNLHA. This is regardless of previous service, or position, within another organization whether it be "Real World" or "Living History".
- We do not contribute to, nor interfere with, the formation, administration or operation of any other Veteran, Service, Civic, Ceremonial or Fraternal organization. Rather we concentrate on presenting as historically correct appearance as possible to the public, and invite new members to join with us and expand our impression(s) and their own. From time to time we opt to coordinate our efforts with other groups.
- We honor the memory of the "Southern Nevada Civil War Historical Society" (SNCWHS), and try to continue the efforts they began in the 1980's in providing Living History to our community.
In closing:
The SNLHA organizes its own activities, as well as, supporting programs and activities of; the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historical Park, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, the Boy Scouts of America, and other historically minded groups and local schools. We do this by offering full programs, or by supplying manpower where needed. We typically provide the following local programs for our community:
- We plan and staff “The Soldiers of The Old Fort” program that replaced the SNCWHS in about 2000, at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historical Park. All programs are coordinated directly with Nevada State Parks.
- We manage the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park "American Civil War Re-enactment", in partnership with the of the American Civil War Society, Inc.
- We coordinate the Historic American Civil War era, and other Historic Time Period entries in local parades: Heldorado Day, 4th of July, and Veteran's Day.
- We staff the American Civil War era style Color Guard, Honor Guard and Rifle Squad for public and private ceremonies around southern Nevada. We do so in cooperation with the local Veteran, Service, Civic, Ceremonial, Fraternal or other organizations that request our services.
Yours in service,
Jason Coffey
President
Southern NV Living History Association
(702) 354-6875