Adventures for History Buffs in Northern Nevada

On a Northern Nevada itinerary, groups experience a variety of cultures that make up Reno Tahoe’s history, from its Native American and Basque cultures to evidence of its silver-mining background and Western traditions. 

Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum includes a contemporary art space called Great Basin Native Artists Gallery, a storytelling room, a research room, and a permanent exhibit about Stewart Indian School’s 90-year history.

Located approximately 20 miles southeast of Reno, Nev., the V&T Railroad was completed in 1869 and hauled millions of dollars of gold and silver ore from the rich mines.

The Way It Was Museum in Virginia City is Northern Nevada’s Western heritage and history museum.

Virginia City

Journey back in time when you stroll down the wooden sidewalks of Virginia City, a historic town most famous for the Comstock Lode in the 1800s, where miners and prospectors in the western Great Basin discovered gold and silver ore. Take a 35-minute excursion to the Old West with a steam engine ride on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad from Virginia City to Gold Hill. Not to be missed is the historic Piper’s Opera House, built in 1885 and one of the most significant vintage theatres in the U.S., and the Fourth Ward School Museum, a state-of-the-art school when it was built in 1876 that now serves as a museum to commemorate the American West.

Genoa

Situated at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains just 25 minutes east of Lake Tahoe, Genoa is a quaint community rich with historical charm. Recognized as the oldest permanent settlement in Nevada, the Genoa Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum

Stewart Indian School was operated by the federal government from 1890–1980 as a boarding school for Great Basin Native students. Created and funded by the State of Nevada, Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum, located south of Carson City, tells the stories of the students’ experiences and serves as a gathering place for their ancestors. 

Carson City

A short drive from Reno to Nevada’s capital city of Carson City will land you at the Nevada State Museum. The museum celebrates the state’s natural and cultural history and features the historic Carson City Mint.

Honor and experience Northern Nevada’s heritage and history by visiting visitrenotahoe.com/things-to-do/arts-and-culture/heritage. 

Celeste Rodriguez is the digital communications specialist at the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority.

Photo credit: visitrenotahoe.com.