Carson City (pop 70,000) is Nevada's capital city. Brainchild of a prominent New York businessman, Carson City rose from the sagebrush in the late 1850s, beating out other established Nevada towns for the title of territorial capital and eventually state capital. Today that history is kept alive with a wealth of museums, impressive historical homes, and old casinos and structures evoking the spirit of the Wild West.
Besides the historical interest, Carson City is also uniquely situated near several major attractions without being as crowded as many of them. Lake Tahoe is just a few miles to the west over Spooner Summit, and the larger city of Reno is a short drive north. Historic Virginia City is also nearby, making Carson City a good central location to explore this area of the country.
Carson City located along State Highway 88 south of Reno. For more information on the Carson City area, please select a topic of interest from the list on the left.