The Republic of Molossia (Esperanto: Respubliko de 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 self-proclaimed micronation consisting of President Kevin Baugh, First Lady Adrienne Baugh, and their public servant (pet dog) Woola. It is not recognized by the United Nations or the United States. The main language spoken in Molossia is US English, though Esperanto is also an official language and can be seen on signs around the country.
Molossia is one of the oldest micronations (dating back to the 1970s), and President Baugh is active in the micronationalist community. He and the First Lady are friendly, welcoming, and treat their "nation" with a charming level of creativity and tongue-in-cheek detail. They're justifiably proud of Molossia, but they don't treat it too seriously either.
A number of places and institutions in Molossia are named after San Francisco's Emperor Norton, a nineteenth-century eccentric who declared himself Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico. He issued his own currency, made proclamations, and was in some ways the forerunner of modern micronations like Molossia.
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. Plan to stay about two hours, for the tour led by President Baugh and a bit of time to explore the national parks and buy a souvenir or two.
Outside of the designated tour dates, visitors are not permitted to tour Molossia, though if you're in the area you can still stop by, peruse the Republic of Molossia Little Free Library, and sit on a bench that's just over the border.
At the front gate, there is a 1 Customs House. Passports can be stamped, but this is not mandatory for entry (if you're worried about the Molossian stamp raising eyebrows on future travels, you can bring an old passport).
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. Molossia is at 226 Mary Lane, Dayton, Nevada.
Street parking is available in the US near the Molossian border.
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
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- 3 Red Square. Main center of business and commerce for the nation.
- Friendship Gateway. Molossia's Friendship Gateway, the entrance to the Red Square, is dedicated to openness, inclusiveness and amity between peoples.
- Office of the President. Official workplace of the President of Molossia.
- The Water Tower.
- Time Capsule Marker. This small-scale country buries small-scale time capsules: the capsule is retrieved every four years and a new one buried.
- 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.
- Friendship Gateway. Molossia's Friendship Gateway, the entrance to the Red Square, is dedicated to openness, inclusiveness and amity between peoples.
- 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 Salt Mine. Where Molossia's political prisoners serve sentences of hard labor (you might be able to hear them from outside the mine's entrance).
- 6 Norton Park. Named for San Francisco's Emperor Norton, this park is home to the Molossian train system, complete with a model German village.
- 7 Molossia Cemetery. Final resting place of the micronation's former dog residents.
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; paper guides are available that explain the history of landmarks along the trail.
- Golf – Molossia's one-hole mini-golf course is open to visitors. Don't hit the ball too hard lest it fly into the United States.
- Make a phone call on Molossia's domestic telephone network. Yes, really! The small network uses repurposed Cold War era phones.
- Become a space cadet by launching a Molossian air rocket.
- Take photos with President Baugh and the various buildings and infrastructure that Molossia has accumulated over the years.
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. Coins come in denominations of 1-, 5 and 10 Valora. Banknotes come in denominations of 1-, 5-, 10 and 20 Valora.
Visitors are welcome to bring tubes of cookie dough to exchange for Valora, or you can exchange US dollars. The currency is really more of a souvenir; the gift shop accepts US dollars (cash, card, or digital payment).
- Molossia Mercado, Red Square. Features souvenirs of Molossia, including signed photographs, postcards, t-shirts, postage stamps and Valora currency.
- 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" (not always open on tour dates). 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 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]The Molossian postal service is not a member of the Universal Postal Union, so if you buy any postcards, you should mail them from the US with USPS stamps.
Stay safe
[edit]
The biggest safety concern is the heat: although Molossia's dictator claims the country's weather is perfect year-round, the hot desert weather from the US constantly blows over the border. Wear sunscreen and a hat, and bring water, especially if you're coming in the summer.
Molossia is still formally at war with East Germany. The country declared war on East Germany back when it still existed, and because the uninhabited Ernst Thälmann Island was not covered by the German reunification treaty, the war has not ended according to President Baugh. Nevertheless, German citizens can visit safely.
Go next
[edit]- Virginia City is the nearest town of note.
- Reno
- The Republic of Slowjamastan, a micronation in Imperial County, California