World War II (1941)was raging in Europe, and rationing was a way of life. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress set up the National Youth Administration program to provide job training for unemployed youth. Through the Clark County NYA and local school administrators, plans were made for a work project - a new building in Mesquite. W.W. Hughes was supervisor and young people from the Valley did the work. Cement was the big expense, but most of the material was native to the area - gravel, rocks, flagstone, and pine poles. The land was purchased from John Houston - $150 for a quarter of an acre. The completed building had seven rooms. It first served as the Mesquite Branch of the Clark County Library with Lavina Leavitt and Edith Knight as librarians.
One of the first official acts after the City of Mesquite was incorporated in 1984 was to designate the old rock hospital as a museum building. The ribbon cutting and dedication of the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum was held during the first Mesquite Days celebration in 1985. Since then, friends have brought treasured heirlooms to share with all who come.
In front of the Museum stands a Historical Marker for the Old Spanish Trail with additional information inside.
The City of Mesquite's Virgin Valley Heritage Museum has various historical items such as the first Slot Machine brought into the Valley, Photographs, Quilts, Wedding Dresses, a 1949 Television, Early Telephones, a Whiskey Still and much more.
