Nevada State Museum, Carson City, NV

Carson City, Nevada is the State Capitol although it is not one of the largest or centrally located capitols. The city was named after the famed Kit Carson who was a famous scout. John C. Fremont was one of the first Europeans to see this part of the country that was called Eagle Valley by the Washoe Indians.

The gold and silver rushes of the Comstock Lode in 1859 helped Carson City become more populated. The Virginia and Truckee Railroad ran tracks from Virginia City to Carson City in the 1860's, making the city easier to reach. However, the Southern Pacific Railroad installed a line through Donner Pass which proved problematic to the city's population in later years.

The Nevada State Museum relays the history of the area. It is located at 600 North Carson St. and is open Wednesday through Saturday. The hours of operation are from 8:32 am to 4:30 pm. The museum is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. There is an elevator that allows visitors in wheelchairs access to the museum. Tours are available by request.

Admission to the museum is Adults: six dollars, Seniors: four dollars, Children seventeen and under: free. Members of the museum are also free.

There is a new entrance to the museum that guests enter through. It is called the Dema Guinn Concourse. The Nevada State Museum regularly changes the exhibits so that it is fresh and new.

A Museum Store is where visitors can find books on the State of Nevada, Native American jewelry, t shirts, cards, crafts, Nevada souvenirs and medallions. The medallions are minted on a special coin Press No. 1.

The museum also hosts lectures and different shows throughout the year. A schedule of events is at the online site.

There are several areas for the exhibits with the Marjorie Russell Center displaying clothing and textiles. The collection has approximately ten thousand artifacts. There is women's clothing that began in the eighteenth century and continues to present day.

Children's clothing, hats and ceremonial dress is part of the exhibit as well. The textiles that are displayed include flags and banners. Military uniforms are part of the fashions that help to communicate the history, symbols and economic status of the wearers.

This building is also part of an extensive research facility that tells about the technical data of the textiles and clothing. The staff can help provide answers about preserving heirlooms and give them names of textile experts that may be able to help. Student internships are available to students at the University of Nevada. Marjorie Russell was one of the First Ladies of Nevada and the collection houses some of her personal items. Visitors need to schedule an appointment to view the center.

Visitors can see the Carson City Mint Building that made coins from 1870 to 1893. They continue on to the geological history area with rock specimens and photos. A Columbian Mammoth that was found in Black Rock Desert has been reconstructed and a Native American exhibit tells of their culture in their own words.