In 1862, the Saint Charles Hotel was built in a vernacular Italianate style. During this period, Carson City, Nevada, was newly founded, and a Capitol building had not yet been constructed. Nevertheless, the hotel's proprietors, Albert Muller and George Remington, two young men in their twenties, were convinced that Carson City was destined to become the capital of the Nevada Territory. They decided to construct two hotels in brick side by side, naming one of the hotels the "St. Charles," as this was the name of many premiere hotels on the east coast of the U.S.
The Nevada State Capitol Building was completed in 1871. Constructed with sandstone in a Classical Revival style, the building also includes Renaissance Revival and Italianate elements. Notable architectural features include an octagonal annex (added in 1906-07) and Alaskan marble walls, which are visible in the interior. This is the second oldest capitol building west of the Mississippi River. Nevada officially gained U.S. statehood on October 31, 1864.
The Nevada State Printing Building was completed in 1886. It is the second oldest building in the Nevada State Capitol complex. Built to house the government offices and presses of the Nevada State Printer, it was designed in the Italianate architectural style. This design style was intended to complement the State Capitol building, which was built in 1870.
The Washington Elm Historical Marker commemorates the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Washington, the first President of the United States. This elm tree was raised as a seedling on the east coast of the U.S., and it was planted in Carson City in 1932. Underneath the grandparent of this elm tree, Washington took command of the Continental Army on July 3, 1775. The grandparent elm, known as the original Washington Elm, was located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Hall in Carson City was built during the 1870s, not long after the city was founded in 1858. For a century after the construction of the Odd Fellows Hall, the building served as a meeting place for the IOOF and other fraternal organizations. This structure later served as the home of local businesses, including Allied Van Lines. Although the property was demolished in the 1970s, the original cornerstone was preserved and can be seen on the end of the low wall running along the sidewalk, near the intersection with N. Plaza Street. A historical marker was also embedded into the wall next to the cornerstone.
The Olcovich-Meyers House was built in 1874 by Joseph Olcovich, a Prussian immigrant and merchant. The home features the Gothic Revival architectural style, and it is one of the few remaining examples of this style in Carson City. After the property changed hands, the new owner, George Meyers, added several Victorian details to the house. In addition to its architectural value, the property is also significant because it is associated with the Jewish community and the mercantile trade during Carson City's early years. The home is a private residence and is not open to the public.
This Methodist Church was built to serve a local congregation that originally formed in 1859. Consequently, the site is referred to as the "Cradle of Nevada Methodism." Reverend Warren Nims, who served as pastor of this church from 1863 - 1866, oversaw much of the construction of the building. Although the building has been altered over the years, it retains its pointed-arch windows and remains a strong example of the Gothic Revival architectural style. As is true of many other buildings in Carson City, the stone was quarried from the local state prison.
The Dat So La Lee House served as the home of the well-known Washoe Indian basket weaver Louisa Keyser, better known as Dat So La Lee, her Indian name. Abram Cohn, the husband of La Lee’s promoter, Clarrise Amy Cohn, built the home for La Lee around 1914. The one-story, gable-roofed, vernacular board and batten cottage is in fair condition and continues to be utilized as a private residence. The Dat So La Lee House resides within Carson City’s historic district on the west side of town. The cottage, during the time when La Lee lived there, consisted of only one room, with a corner sectioned off for the purpose of a bathroom, which had a toilet with a pull-chain.
Circa 1864, this was the home of Orion Clemens and his brother, Samuel Clemens, who was better known by his pen name, Mark Twain. The Clemens brothers traveled together to Carson City from the east coast. Orion Clemens was appointed to serve as the Territorial Secretary of the Nevada Territory from 1961- 1964. During the mid-1860s, Mark Twain lived at this house with his brother, while working as a reporter and writer in the early years of his career. As a result, the property is also sometimes referred to as the Mark Twain House. In 1964, Nevada attained statehood. By the mid-1860s, both of the Clemens brothers had moved away from Carson City.
This property was constructed from 1869-1871 as the home of Abraham Curry, considered by many to be the founder of Carson City. In 1858, Curry came to Eagle Valley in search of land. that could be developed into a town. After acquiring a large parcel with some associates, he sold off lots while planning the design for a town based on a grid. The lots in town sold quickly following the discovery of gold and mining of what became known as the Comstock Lode, leading this community to grow. When Nevada applied for statehood in the Civil War, local leaders of Carson City succeeded in having their town named as the capital of Nevada. The Abraham Curry House is now used as a private law office. and is not open to the public for tours.
The Nevada State Museum is the site of the former United States Mint in Carson City. The U.S. Mint Building, also known as the Carson City Mint, was constructed in 1869 during the Comstock mining boom. Previously, silver and gold bullion had to shipped all the way to San Francisco to the U.S. Mint on the West Coast. Today, the Nevada State Museum features Carson City's original "Coin Press No. 1" on permanent display, along with other exhibits and events. A historical marker was placed at the site by the Nevada Landmarks Society.
This replica of the Liberty Bell is one of fifty-three such replica bells cast in a foundry in France. It was presented to the United States government in 1950. This particular replica bell is adjacent to the Nevada State Museum. A historical marker placed at the site states that the bell's "dimension and tone are identical with those of the original Liberty Bell when it rang out our independence in 1776."
The Children's Museum of Northern Nevada is located in the historic Civic Auditorium Building, which was built in Carson City in 1939. The Children's Museum opened in this building in 1994. Children and families visiting the museum can learn about history, humanities, arts, and sciences through interactive exhibits that encourage hands-on participation. The mission of the museum is to inspire creativity and imagination.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This short walk through the heart of Nevada's state capitol includes government buildings, monuments, historic buildings, and other landmarks. More entries will be added soon.
