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 On
the north end of the quad at the University of Nevada Reno stand two of
the most celebrated structures in the state. The Mackay statue was created
by Gutzon Borglum to honor the luck and vision of John Mackay, an Irish
immigrant who made his fortune in the gold and silver mines of Virginia
City. The Mackay family, in support of the community that gave them so
much, bequeathed the funds to establish the Mackay School of mines at
the university and the building named in their honor.
It’s one of
the most notable buildings on campus. Limestone columns on its granite
portico greet students and visitors. Its oak doors open to the atrium,
which now houses the Mines library, and to the left of the entrance is
the W.M, Keck minerals museum.
Recent restoration
has brought the building back to its original luster. Marble floors, 15-foot
high windows, and rich woodwork make this one of the most beautiful buildings
on the campus. Structural retrofits have brought the building up to current
earthquake standards so we can expect to have it around for quite some
time into the future.
More
about the Mackay Statue and Building:
The W.M. Keck Museum houses over 6,000 mineral samples, fossils, and
rare mining artifacts and machinery, and the Mackay silver collection:
1,350 pieces, weighing 14,718 ounces.- In 1873, John
Mackay struck one of the richest veins in history, the Big Bonanza,
which produced more than $180 million in ore in just over four years.
- 64 base isolators
with 44 Teflon coated slider plates were place in the foundation of
the building.
- The building is
expected to withstand earthquakes of over 7.0 magnitude on the Richter
scale.
- Both the Mackay
statue and the Mackay School of Mines Building were dedicated on June
10, 1908.
- Gutzon Borglum,
the sculptor of the John Mackay statue, is best know for his work on
Mount Rushmore which he began in 1927 and worked until his death in
1941.
- The statue was
originally intended to be placed on the grounds of the state capitol.
After considerable controversy, it was finally installed on the university
campus.
- Above the stairs
leading to the second floor, visitors sees a 24-foot model of a plesiosaur
fossil.
- Architect Stanford
White designed the Mackay building, White was shot to death June 25,
1906, on the roof of Madison Square Garden in lovers' quarrel.
 Rachel
Dolbier, Administrator, W.M. Keck Museum:
: “This is the most beautiful building on campus and the level of
quality of renovations that were undertaken are just so exquisite. The
marble floors, all the wood, you know, the 15 foot high windows that it
really is something you can’t put a price on terms of enjoyment
of working in such a place I mean it’s fabulous.”
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