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Carson City Area Guide

Welcome to Carson City, Nevada!

Carson City is a picturesque city situated on the western edge of the State of Nevada. This capital city of Nevada has a population of a little more than 55,000 residents. Amazing scenery abounds in Carson City, with the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lake Tahoe and Washoe Lake among the natural settings that surround it. With these natural parks and lakes so readily available, Carson City is an outdoorsman’s paradise! Of course, even if you don’t consider yourself an outdoorsman, there is so much going on in Carson City that you will never be at a loss in finding something fun to do. Lively Downtown Carson City provides top-notch restaurants, unique shops, cultural museums, and an active night life scene to lure everyone in the family out for some fun and excitement. Step out and take a fresh breath of mountain air…enjoy the family-friendly events scheduled year round…delve into the rich history of determined pioneers…celebrate Carson City! Welcome home!

History

The first-known inhabitants of the area presently known as Carson City were the Washoe Indians. The area had originally been a part of Eagle Valley. In 1843, an explorer by the name of John C. Fremont made his way into the area. Fremont named a river found running through the area the Carson River in honor of his guide, Christopher Houston “Kit” Carson, who became a legendary American frontiersman. At that time, the area was a part of the Utah Territory, and was governed by Mormon officials. A man by the name of Abraham Curry led a group of settlers wanting a territory to be established that would remove them from the jurisdiction of the Mormons. In 1858, Curry purchased an area of land and called the settlement Carson City after the nearby river.

Carson City celebrates a history steeped in stories of the Old West and heralding the steadfastness of early pioneers. The infamous gold rush of 1859 brought many hopefuls through the region, leaving behind the legendary tales of the Wild West. The gold rush also provided a purpose for Carson City; that of a supply depot. In 1860, an outlet for the Pony Express and Overland mail was stationed in the city. Due to its wealthy status and congressional votes, Nevada was made a state in 1864, as it would play an important role in Union efforts in the Civil War. Because of this, Nevada is sometimes referred to as the “Battle Born” state. In 1870, the railroad was built between Virginia City and Carson City, that particular line being known as the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. To this day, Carson City celebrates its rugged history and its current small-town way of life.

Activities and Attractions

There are so many interesting things to see and do in Carson City, it would be impossible for us to list them all here. Hopefully the information below will give you a good starting point.

Brewery Arts Center ~ Touted as one of Nevada’s most active cultural centers, this hub of everything Nevada hosts over 100 events every year!
http://breweryarts.org/

The Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada ~ Bring kids of all ages to explore and enjoy this one-of-a-kind museum. Featuring a Maze Teen Virtual Reality Game, dress up costumes, a “gravitron,” kid-sized sheriff’s office, grocery store, emergency room and more! They’ll have so much fun, they won’t realize they are learning!
http://www.cmnn.org/index.html

Nevada State Museum ~ Travel back to the early days of Nevada through archeological, clothing and textile exhibits, lectures, Native American heritage presentations and more! http://museums.nevadaculture.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=486&Itemid=439

The St. Charles Hotel ~ Built in 1862, this historic landmark has watched Carson City develop from the very beginning. Come dine at this ode to days gone by.
http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/nevada/stc.htm

Wild Horse Theater ~ Home of the Wild Horse Theater Company and the Wild Horse Children’s Theater, this is the place for year-round live family entertainment! Summer workshops for the kids are available.
http://www.wildhorsetheater.com/

Parks and Recreation

Nature at its finest is found all around you in Carson City. Breathtaking vistas are visible in every direction. Please peruse the links below to find out the amazing ways you can experience the wonders of Carson City every day.

Biking Trails
http://travelnevada.com/tourist-attractions/city/carson-city/biking.aspx

Carson City Neighborhood Parks
http://www.carson.org/index.aspx?page=2345

Carson City Recreation Division
http://www.carson.org/index.aspx?page=1248

Golf Courses
http://travelnevada.com/tourist-attractions/city/lake-tahoe/golf.aspx

North Lake Tahoe
http://www.gotahoenorth.com/

Open Spaces and Trails
http://www.carson.org/Index.aspx?page=2347

Shooting Facilities
http://www.carson.org/Index.aspx?page=1042

Sports Facilities
http://www.carson.org/index.aspx?page=2350

Washoe Lake State Park
http://parks.nv.gov/wl.htm

Events

So many year-round events to attend, so little time! For current listings of upcoming events for every interest, visit the links below regularly.

Carson City Official Website Events Calendar
http://www.carson.org/Index.aspx?page=14

Downtown Carson City Events
http://www.downtowncarsoncity.com/entertainment.html

Nevada Events (searchable by region)
http://travelnevada.com/events-shows.aspx