THE REPUBLIC OF MOLOSSIA

Molossia is no average country: it is a micronation of 33 citizens (including a few dogs). There’s also a cat, but he hasn’t been honored with citizenship - because, according to the president, he’s a ‘constant source of irritation’ and is not to be trusted. The micronation is celebrating its 40th anniversary under the leadership of its irrepressible president, His Excellency Kevin Baugh – the man described by his wife as a ‘benevolent dictator’ who is escorting today’s tour.

The roughly two-hour expedition takes them past The Tower of the Winds, a monument that includes decorative items and red lava gravel ‘dedicated to the wind and the desert and as a symbol of our nation,’ Molossia’s extensive website explains. There’s also Red Square – home to a post office, trading company and bar and grill – and Norton Park, a ‘tranquil garden where Molossians can relax and enjoy life.’

Molossia has its own currency, rules and identity – despite its geographical location in Nevada in the US.

The micronation was the brainchild of Baugh and his high school friend James Spielman, who in 1977 created their own country called the Grand Republic of Vuldstein after they watched the classic film The Mouse That Roared.

Spielman was proclaimed King and Baugh the Prime Minister of a kingdom - then in Portland, Oregon – and the pair drafted land charters and gave themselves power to make laws in which to govern themselves.

As they got older, Spielman moved on with his life, but Baugh was hooked - renaming the nation the Republic of Molossia and declaring himself the President. Now, 40 years later in the new location of Dayton County, Nevada, his Excellency loves the power that comes with owning his own country.

‘Last year we got 101 tourists,’ says Baugh, who loves the tourists dollars that come in to help Molossia, which he has deemed a ‘third world country’.

‘I was shooting for 200 because I am in a competition with the tiny island nation of Nauru which is out in the western Pacific and they are the least visited country on earth.’ ‘It would be super cool to beat an established UN nation.’

Tours of Molossia last around two hours; the micronation has already hosted 109 visitors this year but Baugh is hoping to surpass 200 to compete with the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru, which is the least visited country in the world.

The relationship between Molossia and the surrounding areas extends beyond tourism and parades, as Baugh and his family shop for groceries in ‘America’ but they call the purchased items ‘imports’.

He says: ‘We are importing a lot. Our number one export is garbage and then children. They go to school over in the US. ‘We have to go to the US fairly often because we don’t have any natural resources besides dirt.’

Claiming dual citizenship, those in the Baugh family who are of age do participate in local and national American elections along with paying taxes.

‘We aren’t trying to cause any problems, so as far as they are concerned we are US citizens,’ says Baugh.

‘From a US perspective, Molossia doesn’t exist. It is just an art project in somebody’s yard. As long as we pay our taxes, which we call foreign aid, then they leave us alone.

To read the complete article, see:
Meet the First Family of Molossia, a nation within Nevada: 40-year 'dictator,' President Kevin Baugh, rules over 33 citizens (including dogs) of the micronation he established, complete with its own rules, border control, traditions and currency (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4665236/Micronation-Molossia.html)

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