Carson City author pens historical tour guide of U.S. Highway 395
Author and photographer Stephen H. Provost has released a new historical tour guide for Carson City's own Highway 395.
"Sierra Highway: U.S. 395 and El Camino Sierra in California and Nevada" is the fourth volume in his growing "Highways of the West" series, joining "America's Loneliest Road" (U.S. 50, which also touches on Carson City history), "Victory Road," and "The Lincoln Highway in California."
Provost and his wife Sharon traveled extensively along 395 to prepare for this book which includes more than 500 photos in 350-plus pages. In doing so, they drove all the way to California's northern border with Oregon and all the way south to San Diego on a road that includes sections of iconic Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway.
Based on these journeys and extensive research, Provost compiled a detailed account of the road's history, its landmarks and legacy, from Susanville to San Side Mountain, from Mammoth to Mono Lake, with detours to historic towns like Genoa and the ghost town of Bodie along the way.
"Sierra Highway" explores the majesty and history of the road known as El Camino Sierra and the Three Flags Highway, from its origins as a dirt-and-gravel auto trail to the present. It’s divided into four main sections covering Northern California, Nevada, Mono County, Inyo County, and Southern California, preceded by a brief historical introduction.
Provost brings more than 30 years of experience as a journalist at daily newspapers to this project and is the author of more than 50 books, including a dozen on the nation's highways. Sierra Highway is available in paperback, Kindle eBook, and color keepsake hardcover editions on Amazon, at acesofnorthernnevada.com, and through the author. Provost also intends to distribute it to bookshops and museums locally (many of which already carry his books "America's Loneliest Road," "Carson City Century," and others).
The Provosts will be at Dayton Valley Days on Sept. 16-17 and the Genoa Candy Dance on Sept. 23-24, selling and signing copies of “Sierra Highway” and other books.