Page 510 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

508  THE SOUTHWEST

Nevada residents, among whom was
a journalist from Missouri who
Nevada was known as the “Silver State” mainly because of later became famous under
the immense wealth that came out of the late 19th-century the pseudonym Mark Twain.
silver mines of the Comstock Lode, east of Reno. Today, it is Over the next 20 years, tons
synonymous with adult fun, thanks to the presence of the of gold and silver were mined
here, but by the turn of the 20th
world’s largest gambling and entertainment mecca at century the town had begun to
glittering Las Vegas (see pp502–507). Away from its few cities, fade. However, the popular 1960s
Nevada is mostly uninhabited desert, with ridge after ridge TV show Bonanza has given the
of rugged mountains dividing the endless sagebrush plains. city a new lease on life as one
of Nevada’s most enjoyable
destinations. A National Historic
the Comstock Lode between Landmark, the city is located at
1869 and the 1930s. Later an elevation of 6,220 ft (1,896 m);
used in Hollywood films, the its steep streets offer fine views
trains also offer excursions on of the surrounding mountains.
summer weekends. The old main street, C Street,
is packed with historic sites
E Nevada State Museum dotted alongside Wild West-
600 N Carson St. Tel (775) 687-4810. themed saloons and souvenir
Open 8:30am–4:30pm Tue–Sun. shops. Up the hill along B Street,
Closed Jan 1, Thanksg., Dec 25. & 7 the elegant Castle is the state’s
∑ museums.nevadaculture.org best-preserved mansion. It was
E Nevada State Railroad built in 1863–8 and in its heyday
Museum it was considered to be one of
2180 S Carson St. Tel (775) 687-6953. the finest mansions in the west.
Open 9am–4:30pm Thu–Mon. Closed Although the interior is now
Jan 1, Thanksgiving, Dec 25. & 7 closed to the public, you can
Façade of the impressive State Capitol in ∑ museums.nevadaculture.org still gain a glimpse of the
Carson City amount of wealth that flowed
through here in the 1860s.
2 Carson City 3 Virginia City The city’s main historical
museum fills the old Fourth
* 55,000. @ n 716 N Carson St * 1,000. n 86 S C St, (800) 718-
Suite 100, (775) 687-7410. 7587. ∑ visitvirginiacitynv.com Ward School, the Victorian
∑ visitcarsoncity.com Gothic landmark at the south
Prospectors following the gold end of C Street. It showcases the
The state capital and third largest deposits up the slopes of Mount city’s lively history with exhibits
city in Nevada, Carson City was Davidson discovered one of ranging from mining tools to
named in honor of the Wild West the world’s richest strikes, the Mark Twain, who began his
explorer Kit Carson. Nestled Comstock Lode, in 1859. Almost career at the city’s Territorial
at the base of the eastern overnight, the bustling camp Enterprise. An intact classroom
escarpment of the Sierra Nevada, of Virginia City grew into the is preserved as it was in 1936,
the city was founded in 1858, a largest settlement between when the last class graduated.
year before the discovery of the Chicago and San Francisco. It
Comstock Lode mines. It still had over 100 saloons and 25,000 P Fourth Ward School
retains a few old-fashioned 537 South C St. Tel (775) 847-0975.
casinos in its downtown core. Open May–Oct:10am–5pm daily.
The excellent Nevada State Closed Nov–Apr. & 7
Museum, down the street from ∑ fourthwardschool.org
the impressive State Capitol, is
housed inside the 1870 US Mint
building, where coins were made 4 Reno
from Comstock silver. The * 237,000. ~ £ @ n 135 N
museum holds a full-scale replica Sierra St, (775) 687-7410.
of a working mine, as well as ∑ visitrenotahoe.com
displays on the natural history
of Nevada and the Great Basin. Self-proclaimed “The Biggest
On the south side of Carson Little City in the World,” Reno
City, the Nevada State Railroad was Nevada’s main gambling
Museum preserves 60 steam destination until it was
engines and freight cars from surpassed by glitzy Las Vegas
the old Virginia & Truckee Old-timers in a Wild West-themed saloon in the 1950s. The city also
Railroad, which carried ore from in Virginia City achieved national prominence
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp550–52 and pp553–5

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm