Old Geiger Grade by Jaime Lynn Shafer

Old Geiger Grade was inspired by Geiger Grade Road and the history of the Comstock. It places readers in the steep, dangerous terrain of the 1860s settlers as they travel to Virginia City by stagecoach where they hope their fortunes might be found. One of the most important mining discoveries in American History, the Comstock Lode was the first major silver discovery in the United States and virtually ended the California Gold Rush. From the Nevada Land Trust web site: "Next time you’re headed up to Virginia City from Reno on Geiger Grade, NV 341, check out the Nevada State Historical Marker just before the road flattens out in the Highlands. The sign tells of the Old Geiger Grade, constructed by Davison Geiger and John Tilton in 1862 to link Virginia City’s Comstock Lode to the Truckee Meadows. Old Geiger Grade (‘In Canyon Below’) Dead man's point and robber's roost, two of the most famous features of the road, can be see from the historical marker. " Created as part of my experience as the Black Rock Press Redfield Fellow in Book Arts at the University of Nevada, Reno, Old Geiger Grade is the first book produced by the Black Rock Press for the Parley Project. The Parley Project is a biannual interdisciplinary book art project that engages other entities within the university in conversation with the Black Rock Press. It was influenced by the W.M. Keck Museum at the University of Nevada, Reno-the second oldest museum in the state. Special thanks to the staff and students at UNR who assisted with production: Inge Bruggeman, Amy Thompson, Amaris Martin, Judith Rodby, and Su Tran.