A Sovereign Nation in a Sea of Sagebrush

Since I was a child, I have always wanted to see other countries. Not to say that America isn't worth exploring (look at the rest of my site!), but the wanderlust to see more places has been a part of me for a very long time. For a while, I thought Canada was my best option for international travel. I would need to get a passport, and deal with the tedious process of crossing international borders. But it turns out, theres another country closer to home...

Enter the Republic of Molossia, a nation bordered by the U.S. state of Nevada. President Kevin Baugh has sought to run his own country since the late 1970s. In the following years, the country had been relocated and the structure of the government continued to change, until 1999, where Molossia as we know it today was established on land near Dayton, Nevada.

I arrived with a large group of other tourists in June of 2024. Tours and entry into the country must be scheduled and approved by the President, with monthly tours during the summer. It was a very colorful bunch, with people of all ages from all over the world.

It's a very small country, vibrantly colored with history and unique facilities. To the unenlightened eye, Molossia may seem just like another member of a small neighborhood, as the President and the First Lady reside in what seems to be an ordinary house. However, stepping into the country (what the uninformed may consider to be "the back yard"), you will find a wonderland of meticulously crafted structures, a park, a hiking trail, and more. I was enamoured by the level of detail in their construction and decoration.

The President showed us various government offices, some staffed by mannequins. Mannequins cannot revolt, which makes them very reliable and productive. The President also has his own working office outside of the house! There is a park, jail, a salt mine, golf course, bar & grill, art, a cemetary for beloved pets, and much more. I launched a rocket to become a Molossian Space Cadet, and was thrown in jail for holding a rubber catfish. Honestly, the country is overflowing with unique features, and as I write about this almost a year later, I simply cannot remember it all. What a shame it is to have not retained all I experienced here!

There was a point where us tourists were asking the President questions. Someone asked what is the biggest Molossian export, and without hesitation, the President said "garbage!". The United States loves to collect Molossian garbage, every week! I can't remember other questions, sadly.

There are many things to dive into on the official Molossian website. It is so nice, that I have linked it twice! Well designed and chock full of detailed information, it is a fascinating place to explore. A navy, space program, ministry of science, it is truly endless. Be sure to check it out and learn infinitely more than I could ever reproduce on my own site.

His Excellency, President Kevin Baugh, and the First Lady, Adrianne Baugh, are wonderful people, eager to discuss their country and their people, with a flare of humor. I hope that I can inspire you to meet them here some day. But don't enter unannounced, His Excellency will probably yell at you.