Taking a Look At Carson City

Carson City is officially the Consolidated Municipality of Carson City. It is an independent city and the capital of the US state of Nevada.

The Downtown Container Park hosts evening entertainment with different performers.

What interests people is the awakening of the giant Praying Mantis. It is accompanied by a drum circle and the metal insect shoots flames from its antennae as it comes to life.

The Kit Carson Trail stretches for 2.5 miles and is a self-guided historic walking tour. It starts at the Capitol Complex and heads through the adjacent West Side Historic District. You can see the Governor's Mansion, century-old churches, and many historic homes. The trail has nearly 50 landmarks with interpretive information by the properties giving historic details and information about the early history of Carson City.

The Nevada State Capitol Complex is a lovely place to see with tree-lined walkways. It includes other government buildings like the State Library and the Supreme Court. You can take a rest at the large plaza.

The State Capitol was constructed with native sandstone between 1870 and 1871 and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, It is one of the oldest capitol buildings west of the Mississippi River. Self-guided tours are available. It is home to the Battle Born Hall on the second floor which is a museum that showcases the Trailblazing Nevada Exhibit.

The Nevada State Railroad Museum offers an insight into the state's locomotive history. The museum has several rail cars and locomotives inside. You can also see photographs and memorabilia. Many exhibits relate to the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.

The Nevada State Museum offers a historical look at Nevada, the Silver State, There are artifacts and exhibits relating to the state's geology and history. The museum is within the historic Carson City Mint which dates back to the late 1800s. There are permanent exhibits ranging from native populations to the rocks and minerals comprising the state's unique landscape.

Along the southeast shore of Washoe Lake, you'll find the popular state park Washoe Lake State Park just a 15-minute drive north of the city. The park offers recreation like hiking, camping, and horseback riding, There is a boat launch to get out onto the lake, and water sports are popular here. The lake has the beautiful backdrop of the Carson Range. Different wildlife make their homes here including birds. There are dunes, beaches, and inland shrubs.

The Virginia & Truckee Railroad is a historic short line that dates back to the 1870s. The gold and silver boon put Virginia City on the map and by 1872 the line connected to the larger Central Pacific Railroad. Today the V&T is a heritage line that offers scenic passenger trips from Truckee to Virginia City and back. It is a scenic route with canyons and tunnels.

You'll get to explore Virginia City, Nevada which is home to the 1870s Big Bonanza silver and gold boom. It is a historic mining town accessible on the V&T railroad. A boardwalk straddles both sides of the main drag and has several colorful storefronts.

You can see the Mackay Mansion Museum and Fourth Ward School Museum and the Saint Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church.

Bowers Mansion Regional Park is located on the west shore of Washoe Lake. There is plenty of lawn space for picnics, playground areas, and a popular public pool. This is the site of the Historic Bowers Mansion dating back to 1864 when silver mining was at a boom. Guided tours are available.

On the western edge of Carson City, you can enjoy Lake Tahoe with hiking and boating. There are several beaches like Chimney Beach and Sand Harbor Beach.