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Historic postcard of downtown Reno
Courtesy of Nevada State Historic Preservation Office |
The National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places and the
Nevada State Historic Preservation Office, in partnership with the Historic
Reno Preservation Society, Reno Historical Resources Commission, City
of Reno, Comstock Historic District Commission, Carson City Planning and
Community Development, Carson City Historic Review Commission and the
National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO),
proudly invite you to discover Three Historic Nevada Cities: Carson
City, Reno, Virginia City. Nestled along the western border of Nevada
near the looming Sierra Nevada Mountain range, these cities were established
after the discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859 brought a reverse migration
from California in the "Rush to Washoe" (Washoe County, Nevada).
Once Carson City became the Nevada State Capital, it thrived as the center
of state government. While 19th-century Reno's economy was tied to the
mining and agricultural industries, in the 20th century it was gaming
and the divorce industry that drew many here. The Comstock Lode of Virginia
City generated a spectacular amount of wealth, and although the urban
town that grew around the mining operations was nearly abandoned in the
early 20th century, today it is a remarkable collection of 19th-century
buildings. This travel itinerary highlights 58 historic places listed
in the National Register of Historic Places that illustrate the stories
of each of these cities and the people who built them.
Virginia City, C St. in 1877
Courtesy of Terri McBride, Nevada State Historic Preservation
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While working at Virginia City's Territorial Enterprise
newspaper in the 1860s, Mark Twain wrote "Some dozens of people in
America have heard of Nevada Territory. . . but when it is shouted abroad
through the land that a new star has risen on the flag--a new State born
to the Union--then the nation will wake up for a moment and ask who we
are and where we came from." While in Nevada, Twain resided in Carson
City with his brother Orion Clemens, who served
as acting governor of the Nevada Territory. Nevada obtained statehood
status in 1864 and construction on the State Capitol
began in 1870. Carson City founder Abraham Curry
was instrumental in bringing a branch of the U.S. Mint
to Carson City. Carson City was also home to many interesting figures
including Dat So La Lee, famous Washoe Indian basket
weaver, and George Ferris, inventor of the Ferris
Wheel. The Virginia & Truckee Railroad, established
between Carson City and Virginia City in the 1870s, became an integral
transportation link between the two cities. The wealth and optimism rampant
in Virginia City during its mining boom is evident in places such as Piper's
Opera House, the Storey County Courthouse, the
King--McBride Mansion and the Savage
Mining Company Office. The University of Nevada
was moved to nearby Reno in 1884, but it was not until the early early
20th century that this city experienced its greatest growth, reflected
by the construction of several schools in the 1910s, including Mount
Rose and McKinley Park School. The home of sheep
rancher Joseph Giraud reflects the lucrative nature
of this and other agricultural industries in Reno. Prolific Nevada architect
Frederic DeLongchamps was responsible for numerous buildings in the region,
including the Riverside Hotel, one of several hotels
built for divorce-seekers attracted to Reno by its lenient divorce laws.
The California Building is the only remnant of the
Transcontinental Highway Exposition of 1927, held in Reno to celebrate
the completion of the Lincoln and Victory highways. Much later in the
century, the Fleishmann Atmospherium Planetarium
was built on the University of Nevada campus, the first atmospherium of
its kind in the world.
Three Historic Nevada Cities offers several ways to discover
the places that reflect the history of these western towns. Each highlighted
site features a brief description of the place's historic significance,
color photographs, and public accessibility information. At the bottom
of each page the visitor will find a navigation bar containing links
to three essays that explain more about the individual towns of Carson
City, Reno and Virginia
City. These essays provide historic background, or "contexts," for
the places included in the itinerary. In the Learn
More section, the itineraries link to regional and local web sites
that provide visitors with further information regarding cultural events,
special activities, and lodging and dining possibilities. The itinerary
can be viewed online, or printed out if you plan to visit the Three
Historic Nevada Cities in person.
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Nevada State Capitol in Carson City
Photo from National Historic Landmarks collection |
Created through a partnership between the National Park Service's National
Register of Historic Places, and the Nevada State Historic Preservation
Office, Historic Reno Preservation Society, Reno Historical Resources
Commission, City of Reno, Comstock Historic District Commission, Carson
City Planning and Community Development, Carson City Historic Review Commission
and NCSHPO, Three Historic Nevada Cities is the latest example
of a new and exciting cooperative project. As part of the Department of
the Interior's strategy to promote public awareness of history and encourage
tourists to visit historic places throughout the nation, the National
Register of Historic Places is cooperating with communities, regions,
and Heritage Areas throughout the United States to create online travel
itineraries. Using places nominated by State, Federal and Tribal Historic
Preservation Offices and listed in the National Register of Historic Places,
the itineraries help potential visitors plan their next trip by highlighting
the amazing diversity of this country's historic places and supplying
accessibility information for each featured site. Three Historic Nevada
Cities is the 27th National Register travel itinerary successfully
created through such partnerships. Additional itineraries will debut online
in the future. The National Register of Historic Places hopes you enjoy
this virtual travel itinerary of Carson City, Reno and Virginia City.
If you have any comments or questions, please just click on the provided
e-mail address, "comments or questions" located at the bottom of each
page.
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