Fremont honor proposed

Nevada historian Guy Louis Rocha received a friendly reception when he called for a Nevada place name to honor John Charles Fremont.

Fremont named many geographic locations in Nevada such as Carson Valley and Pyramid Lake, but has not himself been honored that way, though there are non-geographic features named for him.

Speaking for the Historical Society of Dayton Valley at a Nevada Board on Geographic Names meeting, Rocha suggested that an unnamed mountain in Lyon County be named Fremont Peak. He said Fremont climbed that mountain and, based on his observations, made a decision to turn south, avoiding what are now the Dayton Valley, Eagle Valley (Carson City), and Carson Valley (Gardnerville and Minden).

The NBGN was receptive to the idea, but suggested changing “peak” to “point.” The final decision, if the NBGN approves the idea, will be up to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Fremont became a national hero as a result of his western explorations in the 1830s and ’40s. He was called the Pathfinder by the press. He was also a highly controversial military officer. In 1856 he was the first Republican presidential nominee. Fremont was the subject of the Richard Chamberlain television miniseries Dream West, taken from the David Nevin historical novel of the same name.