Stewart Indian School
Encyclopedia
The Steward Indian School (1890-1980) was an Indian school southeast of Carson City, NV. The school was named for Nevada's first senator, William M. Stewart
and opened on December 17, 1890. The school opened with 37 students from Washoe
, Paiute
and Shoshone
tribes and was staffed by 3 teachers. Students were taught basic educational classes but focused on vocational skills such as agriculture, ranching and carpentry.
As the school grew, superintendent Frederick Snyder transformed the school into an architectural in horticultural showplace in the 1920s. Snyder used native stones for the colonial architecture of the school buildings while the masonry was the work of the students. The school grew to include over 63 buildings, a 10,000 gallon swimming pool and a platform for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. The school closed in 1980 due to Federal budget cuts and earthquake safety.
Today, much of the facility still stands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
established the Stewart Indian Colony on the grounds of and adjacent to the former school. The State of Nevada uses some of the buildings for state sponsored classes, training centers and agency offices such as the Department of Corrections
. A walking tour describes the former campus and relics of the school are on display at the Nevada State Museum, Carson City
.
William M. Stewart
William Morris Stewart was an American lawyer and politician.-Biography:Stewart was born in Wayne County, New York. As a child he moved with his parents to Trumbull County, Ohio. As a young man he was a mathematics teacher in Ohio. In 1849 he began attending Yale University but left in 1850 to...
and opened on December 17, 1890. The school opened with 37 students from Washoe
Washoe people
The Washoe are a Great Basin tribe of Native Americans, living in California and Nevada. The name "Washoe" is derived from the autonym waashiw meaning "people from here" in the Washo language .-Territory:Washoe people have lived in the Great Basin for at least the last 6000 years...
, Paiute
Paiute
Paiute refers to three closely related groups of Native Americans — the Northern Paiute of California, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon; the Owens Valley Paiute of California and Nevada; and the Southern Paiute of Arizona, southeastern California and Nevada, and Utah.-Origin of name:The origin of...
and Shoshone
Shoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
tribes and was staffed by 3 teachers. Students were taught basic educational classes but focused on vocational skills such as agriculture, ranching and carpentry.
As the school grew, superintendent Frederick Snyder transformed the school into an architectural in horticultural showplace in the 1920s. Snyder used native stones for the colonial architecture of the school buildings while the masonry was the work of the students. The school grew to include over 63 buildings, a 10,000 gallon swimming pool and a platform for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. The school closed in 1980 due to Federal budget cuts and earthquake safety.
Today, much of the facility still stands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California are a federally recognized tribe of Washoe Indians, living in California and Nevada. They are several communities south and east of Lake Tahoe united under a tribal council...
established the Stewart Indian Colony on the grounds of and adjacent to the former school. The State of Nevada uses some of the buildings for state sponsored classes, training centers and agency offices such as the Department of Corrections
Nevada Department of Corrections
The Nevada Department of Corrections is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Nevada. The NDOC headquarters is located in Building 17 in the Stewart Facility in Carson City.-History:...
. A walking tour describes the former campus and relics of the school are on display at the Nevada State Museum, Carson City
Nevada State Museum, Carson City
The Nevada State Museum in Carson City is one of 6 Nevada State Museums operated by the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs. The primary building of the Museum is the former Carson City Mint...
.