Welcome to Nativestonework.com! This is our second reincarnation. The site was previously up and running, however, due to events over the past couple of years, we took the site down. However, it is now back up and we are ready to resume detailing the works of the area’s Native American stonemasons.
As before, this site is dedicated to the Native American stonemasons of Nevada and California, their pink stone buildings and other creations! This site intended to identify – and hopefully – preserve the creations of the talented Native American stonemasons in Northern Nevada, California and Hawaii.
In addition to the pink stones, these stonemasons were masters of stone, brick and cinderblock resulting in residential housing, governmental and religious buildings plus ornamental structures. These men and women worked hard in the searing heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter. The only recognition they sought was the satisfaction of a job well done. The Native American stonemasons contributed – and continue to contribute – to the economic and cultural well-being of their communities.
Native Stonework is a continuation of the presentation “W is for Wungnema” which was the first step in cataloging the work of Native American Stonemasons in Northern Nevada and California.
“W is or Wungnema” is a photographic history documenting the stone work of Native America stonemasons, the Wungnemas and their extended family members (the Talases, the McQueens and the Crawfords) debuted on October 7th at the Stewart Community Baptist Church in Carson City.
The goal of the presentation was recognize and acknowledge the stonework of the Native American stonemasons in general, and the Wungnema-Talas-McQueen-Crawford families, specifically. To the best of our knowledge, the Native American stonemasons and their projects were not documented prior to “W is for Wungnema”.
It is hoped that Native Stonework Web site will change that. We encourage our visitors to help put names to the people, the buildings, to share examples of this exquisite stonework that has previously been unknown, to share stories of the Native American stonemasons.
The Native American stonemasons contributed not only to the economic well-being of both Nevada and California, they also contributed to the design aesthetic by enhancing the natural beauty of the area through the use of materials that complimented the landscape. In architecture, the practice of joining both form and beauty with pleasing results is known is architectonic.
Join us as we explore the works of the Native American stonemasons. Please feel free to submit your photographs and memories so that they can be shared with the world! Our email address is nativestonework@gmail.com. Credit will be given to all submissions.