Molossia, also known as the Republic of Molossia, is a micronation bordering the United States, founded by Kevin Baugh and headquartered at his home near Dayton, Nevada. The Republic of Molossia has claimed itself a nation, but it is not recognized as a country by the United Nations or any major government. On April 16, 2016, Baugh hosted a tour of Molossia, sponsored by the website Atlas Obscura. Kevin Baugh continues to pay property taxes on the land to Storey County, although he calls it "foreign aid." The land use of the property identified as being within the county is Manufactured Home Converted to Real Property. Kevin Baugh has stated, "We all want to think we have our own country, but you know the U.S. is a lot bigger".
History
The origins of Molossia come from a micronation childhood project, called The Grand Republic of Vuldstein, founded by Baugh and James Spielman on May 26, 1977. Vuldstein was run and populated by King James I and Prime Minister Baugh, although James soon left Vuldstein. Baugh used this name for several nomadic kingdoms as he traveled to Europe. From 1998 to 1999, Molossia was a member of the United Provinces of Utopia 3. On September 3, 1999, Baugh created the Republic of Molossia as a successor country to Vuldstein and declared himself president. On November 13, 2012, Kevin Baugh created a petition on the Whitehouse.gov We the People website to obtain official recognition of the micronation. He declared at the last census 27 inhabitants.
Territory
Molossia consists of three properties that are owned by Baugh, in the contiguous United States and comprising a total area of : Harmony Province, located near Dayton, Nevada, is the smallest of Molossia's territories, at little more than in size. It is the Baugh family's primary place of residence, and the site of Molossia's designated capital, Baughston. Baughston was renamed from Espera on July 30, 2013, to commemorate President Baugh's 51st birthday.
Recent developments
In August 2003, Baugh purchased a small piece of rural land in Northern California. This was referred to as the Colony of Farfalla. The property was sold late in 2005, after Baugh inherited more land which he subsequently named Desert Homestead Province, in Southern California. Desert Homestead had been owned by Baugh's grandfather, and the property has been declared a national monument dedicated to him. In early 2015, the Farfalla Colony once again became Molossian territory.
Economy
Molossia's currency is the valora, which is subdivided into 100 futtrus and pegged to the relative value of Pillsbury cookie dough. Cookie dough is stored in an outbuilding called the Bank of Molossia, from which valora coins made from gambling chips and printed banknotes are sold. CNN's Great Big Story also featured Molossia and Baugh.
Molossia's flag is a horizontal tricolor of blue, white, and green. The blue bar represents the nation's strength and the desert sky, the white bar represents purity and the surrounding mountains, and the green bar represents prosperity and the Molossian landscape. Other national symbols of Molossia include the mustang, the national animal; the desert quail, the national bird; and the common juniper and common sagebrush, Molossia's national tree and flower, respectively.