Stewart Indian School
(originally called the Carson Indian School) opened in 1890 south of Carson
City. It was originally patterned after the Army’s Carlisle Indian School in
Pennsylvania. Carlisle’s curriculum successfully educated adult warriors, but
proved brutally harsh on children.In addition to reading, writing, and arithmetic, Stewart focused on vocational training. Boys learned agriculture while providing the school with vegetables, meat, and milk. Girls learned dressmaking, and boys pursued tailoring and shoe making to clothe Stewart students.
The curriculum underwent major, favorable changes in the 1930s, with many aspects of Indian culture no longer suppressed. Some graduates moved into off-reservation communities and worked at occupations learned at Stewart. Others returned to reservations and became prominent leaders or tribal members.
Alumni feelings regarding Stewart are mixed. Some view Stewart as their “second home,” while others look back with extreme bitterness. The majority falls somewhere in-between. They received a sound education, and they had some good and bad experiences.
Read more about the Stewart Indian School:
Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs
National Park Service
View more photos of the Stewart Indian School grounds & some of the students
"A Line in the Sand"
