Carson City
775-687-7410
visitcarsoncity.com
One of the most unique state capital cities in the United States, Carson City blends its old west history with the hustle and bustle of today. Visitors can stroll the Kit Carson trail through the city’s historical home district. The legislative building is open to visitors during the week, as well as the state capitol and state library. A fine museum of political memorabilia is housed in the former house and senate chambers. Carson City is also home to the nevada state museum, the Nevada State Railroad Museum and the Governor’s Mansion.
Bowers Mansion Park
4005 Old US Hwy 395, N. Carson City
775-849-0201 or 775-849-1825
En route to Carson City from Reno lies
bowers mansion — a century-old homestead worthy of a gothic tale. Sandy Bowers and his psychic wife, Ellie Orum, built the two-story structure in 1864. Before Bowers died, he and his wife scoured Europe for furnishings for their sumptuous palace. Today, the mansion still contains many antiques, and visitors can picnic on the adjacent grounds. Mansion is open seasonally, call for exact dates.
Brewery Arts Center
449 W. King St., Carson City
775-883-1976
breweryarts.org
Carson City’s local arts agency and community arts center, formerly the Carson Brewing Company. The center offers more than 130 cultural events yearly in theater, music, vocal performance, dance, literature and visual art. BAC also offers art classes and workshops and camps for visual and performance arts for both children and adults.
Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada
813 N. Carson St., Carson City
775-884-2226
cmnn.org
The Carson City Children’s Museum recently added new exhibits. Come enjoy the new teen virtual reality maze, created by a mit graduate. The maze has been featured at the Boston Museum of Science, Zeum in San Francisco and the Interaction Blennale in Japan. Go to virtango.com, look under the project tab and select maze. Our new space shuttle flight simulator is popular with all ages. Take a trip through our Nevada state capital exhibit, sheriff’s office, Asian restaurant and move to dance, dance, revolution! The children’s museum is a fun place for the entire family. Visit us! Open daily 10am-4:30pm.
Governor’s Mansion
2731 S. Carson St., Carson City
Call 775-687-3000
Built in 1909, the governor’s mansion is a tribute to colonial architecture. Inside are state rooms, family rooms, dining areas and parlors. Czech chandeliers, english and Venetian plaster work, oriental and American antiques blend into this rich tapestry of Nevada’s political lore. Open to the public only on Nevada Day.
Nevada State Capitol
101 N. Carson St., Carson City
775-687-4810
the state’s most recognized landmark with its silver-colored cupola. The building was completed in 1871 and houses exhibits and governors’ portraits. Self guided tours are available. Open daily 8am-5pm. Guided tours offered on a limited basis by reservation.
Nevada State Library and Archives
100 N. Stewart St., Carson City
775-684-3360
nevadaculture.org
View the Nevada Constitution. The library and archives have many maps, territorial and state records, photos and publications about the history and growth of Nevada.
Nevada State Museum
600 N. Carson St., Carson City
775-687-4810
museums.travelnevada.com
Located within the historic Carson City Mint, the Nevada State Museum celebrates Nevada’s cultural and natural heritage. See American indian baskets, meet a colossal mammoth, hear ghost town stories and more. Open daily 8:30am-4:30pm. Closed Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
Nevada state railroad museum
2180 S. Carson St., Carson city
775-687-6953
museums.travelnevada.com
Train aficionados, this is your stop. Learn how the Virginia & Truckee Railroad helped Nevada become “The Silver State,” come face to face with legendary steam locomotives and take an exhilarating train ride. Open daily 8:30am-4:30pm. Closed Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
Warren Engine Co. No. 1 Historic Fire Museum
777 S. Stewart St., Carson City
775-887-2210.
See a historic view of the Carson City Fire Department with several pieces of fire apparatus, currier and ives lithographs, photographs and artifacts. Open Mon-Fri from 8am-5pm excluding federal holidays. Free to the public..
Carson Valley
The Visitors Center: inside the Carson Valley Museum
1477 U.S. Hwy 395, Gardnerville
800-727-7677
Carson Valley encompasses Gardnerville, Genoa, Minden and Topaz Lake, stretching east of the majestic Sierra Nevada’s to the beautiful Pine Nut Mountains. Twelve miles south of Carson City you will find miles of open space, numerous historical sites and displays, along with a wealth of outdoor recreation activities still unspoiled. Experience traditional basque dining, visit the oldest bar in Nevada, art galleries, antiques and quaint boutiques or take a historical walking tour and experience Carson Valley, the gem of northern Nevada. Open mon-fri 8am-5pm.
Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center
1477 Hwy. 395 N., Suite B, Gardnerville
775-782-2555
historicnevada.org
Located in the old Douglas County High School. The museum focuses on Douglas County and Nevada. It has exhibits on natural history, Basque, Washo, agriculture, mustangs, main street usa and much more. Includes main street book store, research library and meeting room. Open Mon-Sat 10am-4pm.
Dayton Museum
35 Shady Ln., Dayton
775-246-6316
It is in Nevada’s second oldest building, still located on its original site (1865). Open Sat 10am-4pm and Sun 1-4pm or by appointment.
Fort Churchill State Historic Park
45 miles northeast of Carson City
775-577-2345
parks.nv.gov
Fort Churchill is Nevada’s first military post established after the Paiute War of 1860. The fort had garrisoned some 200 officers and troops by the end of 1861. View adobe ruins and tour the visitor center.
Virginia City
Located 35 minutes S. of Reno
775-847-4386
visitvirginiacitynv.com
Virginia City encompasses the Comstock mines and towns of Gold Hill and Silver City, running down to Gold Canyon to where the first strikes brought thousands of miners to this town. The city produced more than $400 million of gold and silver for a growing nation and helped finance the Civil War. Shop and dine in this rugged mountain town adorned in history. Experience old plank sidewalks, saloons that gleam with murder and mayhem, a cemetery with more history than any archive and many back-room museums. There’s also a historic schoolhouse once visited by Mark Twain.
Comstock History Center
20 N. E St., Virginia City
775-847-0281
museums.travelnevada.com
The Comstock history center is a lasting tribute to Virginia City and its world-famous Comstock lode. It houses the Virginia & Truckee Railroad’s Dayton engine, traveling exhibits and a reference library. Open Thu-Sun 10:30am-3:30pm.
Fourth Ward School Museum
537 S. C St., Virginia City
775-847-0975
fourthwardschool.com
School tours and room rentals by appointment. Walk in the shoes and explore the stories of generations of Comstock students in this elaborate 1876 Victorian, authentically preserved, four-storied wooden schoolhouse. Permanent and rotating exhibits, period classroom, museum store, handicapped accessible, free parking. Special events include parties of the year, Halloween haunted halls, victorian Christmas and the Comstock historical preservation weekend.
Liberty Engine Company No. 1
125 S. C St., Virginia City
775-847-0717
Built in 1867, the building functioned as the station house for Storey County Volunteer Fire Department. This was the first fire house with mechanized equipment on the Comstock. Hand engines, a ladder wagon, hose carriages, uniforms, belts, helmets and other artifacts are on display.
Mackay Mansion
129 S. D St., Virginia City
775-847-0336
mackaymansion.com
John Mackay was one of Virginia City’s wealthiest men in the 19th century. Built in 1860, the mansion served as the mining office and superintendent’s home and today reflects period furnishings and paraphernalia. It now serves as a museum including mining artifacts, original furnishings and Tiffany silver from the Comstock.
Mark Twain Museum at the Territorial Enterprise
47-53 S. C St., Virginia City
775-847-0525
Housed in the original territorial enterprise building where samuel clemens (Mark Twain) started as a reporter, the museum houses Comstock-era artifacts including Twain’s desk.
Nevada Gambling Museum
50 S. C St., Virginia City
775-847-9022
Featuring more than half-a-million dollars worth of gaming memorabilia, including over 100 antique slot machines, cheating devices and gambler’s weapons.
Piper’s Opera House
1 N. B St., Virginia City
775-847-0433
pipersoperahouse.com
Built in the 1880s, Piper’s opera house attracted famous stars from Europe and the United States. It is listed on the national register of historic places and is one of the most significant vintage theaters in the west. There are performances on many weekends throughout the year. Open for tours daily May-Sep.
Virginia & Truckee (V&T) Railroad
F St. Depot, Virginia City
775-847-0380
virginiatruckee.com
Take this narrated 35-minute steam train or diesel train ride through the heart of the historic Comstock mining region. Relax and enjoy the scenic mountain route while the conductor narrates the fabulous Nevada bonanza story. Open daily, May-Oct.
Way It Was Museum
113 N. C St., Virginia City
775-847-0766
The museum displays the most complete collection of Comstock mining artifacts in the world, plus rare photos, lithographs and maps of the “bonanza” period. |
