Republic of Molossia (Esperanto: Respubliko de Molossia), also known as Molossia, is a micronation in Dayton, Western Nevada, with land (referred to as Farfalla colony) near Alturas, California.
The nearest sizable city is Reno, 27 mi (43 km) away.
Understand
[edit]This is a one-person self-proclaimed micro-nation not recognized by the United Nations or the United States.
The languages spoken in Molossia are US English and Esperanto.
Get in
[edit]Entry requirements
[edit]You are required to make a reservation in advance. The president sets specific dates for entry into the micronation; slots are available approximately once per month during tourist season (April–October). If you'd like to come on one of the upcoming dates, send an email to [email protected] with the number of people in your party. Those wishing to visit can only stay a maximum of three hours, and one hour is plenty of time to see the sights.
At the front gate, there is a mini embassy called the 1 Custom House in the micronation's Red Square. Passports can be stamped, but this is not mandatory for entry.
Taking these items into Molossia is prohibited, as per their entry page on their website:
- Firearms, ammunition, and explosives
- Drugs and tobacco
- Incandescent lightbulbs
- Plastic shopping bags
- Catfish
- "Fresh" Spinach
- Missionaries and salesmen
- Onions
- Walruses
Bringing in prohibited items may result in a brief detention in the whimsical "Molossia Jail & Political Prison".
By car
[edit]From Reno: Take I-580 south, then NV-341 to Virginia City, then NV-79 (Six Mile Canyon Road) to Dayton.
By plane
[edit]2 Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO IATA) is the nearest major airport, around 30 mi (48 km) away. Rental cars are available to get you the rest of the way to the republic.
By train
[edit]Molossia has its own railroad system, established in 2000, but unfortunately it is completely separate from the U.S. rail system and in fact is incompatible because it uses a much smaller gauge. The gauge used in Molossia is more typical of model trains rather than passenger trains in other countries, so there is not much hope of connecting the country's trains with its neighbor's.
The nearest passenger station is in Reno, served by the California Zephyr.
Get around
[edit]
Molossia is the size of a rural American residence and can be walked around easily on foot.
See
[edit]- 1 Government House. Residence of the president and his family.
- 2 Republic Square.
- 3 Red Square. Main center of business and commerce for the nation.
- Office of the President. Official workplace of the President of Molossia.
- The Water Tower.
- Time Capsule Marker.
- Peace Pole. Pole with "May Peace Prevail On Earth" written vertically in eight languages (English, Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese, Russian, Cherokee, and of course Esperanto).
- Bank of Molossia. The Bank of Molossia sells Valora banknotes and coins, and serves as a repository of cookie dough, which serves to back Molossia's currency.
- Molossia Post Office. The Molossia Post Office offers postage stamps featuring themes related to the micronation's culture and is the location of Radio Molossia, the republic's own radio station broadcasted from its location on top of the post office and streamed online.
- 4 The Tower of the Winds. Metal monument built to the winds.
- Molossia Heroes Monument. At the east end of Red Square is the Heroes Monument, a column acknowledging individuals that have contributed to the development of Molossia, and also honor all Molossians who fought in the Mustachistan War and the War Against East Germany.
- 5 Molossia Cemetery. Final resting place of the micronation's former dog residents.
- Friendship Gateway. Molossia's Friendship Gateway is dedicated to openness, inclusiveness and amity between peoples.
Do
[edit]- 1 Back Forty National Park. Molossia's second national park, established in 2003 and preserving the nation's natural desert landscape. Reachable by hiking the Trans-Molossia Interpretive Trail.
Buy
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Exchange rates for Molossian Valora
As of September 2018:
Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available from https://www.molossia.org/bank.html |
The currency is called Valora (abbreviated to VL), which is Esperanto for worthy. The Valora has an unusual commodity-based peg, with a 30 oz (850 g) tube of Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough always worth 5 Valora. The currency's subunits are referred to as Futtrus, of which a 100 of these make a single Valora. Coins come in denominations of 1-, 5 and 10 Valora. Banknotes come in denominations of 1-, 5-, 10 and 20 Valora.
As with Sealand (another micronation), Molossia sells merchandise including signed photographs, postcards, t-shirts, postage stamps and Valora currency.
- Molossia Mercado, Red Square. Features souvenirs of Molossia.
- Bank of Molossia, Red Square. Offers Molossia's national currency, the "valora", backed by cookie dough and are issued in both banknotes and coins issued on poker chips.
Eat and drink
[edit]- Tiki Hut Bar & Grill, Red Square. Open: "When We're Here", closed: "When We're Not". A small burger joint with a Polynesian theme. Serves burgers at 3 to 5 VL (~$2.40 to $4.00) with chips/fries (subject to availability), the micronation's signature cocktail The Molossolini for 2 VL (~$1.60), and lava cake for 2 VL (~$1.60).
Sleep
[edit]There is no public accommodation on the land of Molossia.
Dayton only has an RV park, but the nearby Virginia City has several hotels.
- 1 Dayton RV Park, 75 Pike Street East, ☏ +1 775 246 9300. From $40 a day and $252 a week (plus tax).
Alternatively Reno is the closest major city and has plenty of places to stay.
Connect
[edit]Stay safe
[edit]This area is regarded under US law as private land; do not enter without the owner's permission, or you might get shot. The owner also claims to still be at war with East Germany, despite the fact that it no longer exists.
Go next
[edit]- Virginia City is the nearest town of note.
- Reno
- The Republic of Slowjamastan, a micronation in Imperial County, California