REVIEW #1700! One…read moreof the things I enjoy about traveling is the sometimes random discovery of local and historical points of interest. And since part of Gayle's family is from Genoa, and that someday we might actually move here, it's fun to look around and see what I might find. This morning, I started out trying to find a newspaper, but instead just started driving around. And as I drove down Genoa Lane, I came upon the Hanging Tree. One of the worst chapters in the history of Genoa took place in 1897 when a drifter, Adam Uber, accused of murdering a popular teamster, Hans Anderson, was lynched. Uber was dragged from his jail cell in the night and hanged from this tree (along what was then called Boyd's Lane). According to the local legend, all of the perpetrators of the lynching later suffered injuries, great tragedies in their families, or terrible calamities. The story has been immortalized by the Carson Valley Historical Society in their annual progressive play, "The Curse of the Hanging Tree". There is a plaque on the tree east of Genoa on Genoa Lane.

For a very reasonable $5 entry fee, this place is packed with history. So many rooms to explore and…read moreinfo panels to read. When I went, there was a friendly and chatty volunteer at the front desk. I forgot her name but she made the experience a welcoming one. Don't forget to sign the guest book and browse their collection of books for sale. Everything is reasonably priced.

Soo much history packed into this museum (that happens to be in the courthouse)…read more The volunteer/ front desk guy was so knowledgeable and passionate, was fun to learn the historical details from him.

My daughter's elementary school went for a field trip so I went as a chaperone. I had never been…read morebefore and was pleasantly surprised. There are different areas to see with different exhibits. They have one of the original minted coin presses and the man that was giving the information was dressed the part, entertaining, and knowledgeable. All the staff was engaging in each area and you could tell that they genuinely were interested in the history and teaching others about it. The kids favorite area was the "ghost town" since there is a mine that you go through. I definitely learned things I didn't know about Nevada (not originally from the area though).

Quality/Quantity - My ski buddies came to visit from CA, but the snow was so bad, we decided to…read moreskip skiing today and visit Carson City instead. They are museum buffs, so it was natural to come here today. We have visited most of the Reno Museums together already. We spent 3 hours here. Also very kid and teacher friendly. 3 school tours today. Lastly, a small gift shop. Ambiance - So many exhibits, and ever changing exhibits. Featured exhibits and of course permanent exhibits. See pictures and their website. Online exhibits are available also. Also, it was cool that this used to be the US mint. And on Saturday, you can still see the mint press in action. Programs and events; see their website. 3 floors, the bottom floor being a mine. So a decent size location. Small parking lot, but always plenty of street parking. Open 6 days a week 8:30am to 4:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays. Service - Good. Self service mostly. Price - $10, affordable. Member discounts available; see their website. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1939. So much history.

While on a road trip hubby & I wanted to include Carson City as part of our itinerary…read more It's Nevada's state capital. Where to go? My sis & BIL, locals in Reno, suggested the railroad museum. We arrived promptly at 9am, and parked in the free lot. It's $10 admission fee into the museum No senior discount. Train ride is additional cost. We passed as the train goes around in a circle on property a few times. Most of the restored locomotives are local - the V&T aka Virginia & Truckee. Used primarily to haul silver & timber. Staffed mostly by volunteers. Hubby & BIL spent a great deal of time with a volunteer who took them behind the scenes. At least an hour. Sis & I waited in the front lobby where there was AC. Outdoor temperature in the high 90's. There's a small museum gift shop.

I really enjoyed my tour with my in-laws. Bill was a great and knowledgeable guide with a great…read moresense of humor and love for locomotives. Great experience! Great history of the area and then some that blew me away. In today's day in age we should all take the time out and take a step into history here.

The staff was very helpful and talked to us about the area and what they had for the kids…read more They had Fishes, a Turtle, and Guinea Pigs in the front entrance, my child loved them. They have a small gift shop with a place to shif your our rocks, fossils and stones for only $5 which was very fun. They play areas were well maintained, and clean. The play structure with slide is definitely for older kids but everything else was easily playable by my 2 yr old. Thank you for a great visit!

It was a first time, but my son really liked here. Every toys are fun for him, educational, and…read moreencourages him to use his imagination and play. My only concern is some of parents were talking too much, and they didn't notice that their kids were fighting. But there is a great indoor area for kids on a rainy or windy day. And it was really convenient that there is a potty in the restroom. Also, staff was friendly and kind.

The Tallac Historic Site is definitely one of the best places to go to when visiting South Lake…read moreTahoe. There's plenty of parking and a paved walkway, which is easily accessible when the site is open. This place is particularly nice in the offseason when the roads are closed. You park outside in a dirt parking lot right next to Camp Richardson. You then walk along the road until you come to the lakeside. Then you can walk around the lake and see all the historic buildings. If you get hungry, you can walk along the beach to the Grove which is usually open at Camp Richardson. This place is great to go to year-round, but particularly during the shoulder season.

Looking for access to Tahoe's shoreline without the crowds? Look no further than the Tallac…read moreHistoric Site. I discovered this place while taking my son to a day camp that was using this area as a homebase for the day. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect but I found a fairly expensive parking area, shaded picnic tables, and a flat dirt path that meandered along the shoreline of the lake, offering access to the water itself every couple hundred feet. Along the path, there were also placards detailing the history of the site and even some interesting remnants of former buildings that include you into what happened here in the past. This is a great place to learn some of Tahoe's history while enjoying its current beauty without the crowds of the larger public beaches. There's also a section of this area that is available for rent for private functions too, and you can enjoy the history and beauty during a private function with friends and family.

The people here love what they do. They were excited to explain any object you had a question about…read morein the museum, true local historical enthusiasts. You can't get much for free entertainment nowadays, and this spot delivered an hour of educational entertainment. Make sure to purchase something at the front desk to help support their efforts.

We came by last Saturday to check out the  Western Days event at the History Museum Complex. It was…read morea cute mini festival with a few merchandise and food vendors, activities for kids, live music, and access to the Lake Tahoe History Museum and 1930's Log Cabin... all free of charge. It was cool seeing the horse drawn carriage rides happening throughout. And we purchased some sage, and bird whistles for the nieces and nephews back home. We even checked out the Tahoe Art League Gallery, which was right next to the History Museum, and they had some pretty impressive pieces. Event parking was unclear/nonexistent, even for such a small festival. Nothing too exciting, but if interested in seeing old artifacts (slot machine, S.S. Tahoe miniature, weapons, etc.) and learning about the history of Lake Tahoe, they cover it pretty well in the history museum, especially for such a small space.

super knowledgable. a true expert on antiques and especially all things nevada. you will not find a…read morea more unique shop loaded with cool antiques than ron's place old gambling cards to goldfield photos.

This is a great place to check out this history of Nevada's oldest settlement in Genoa. There is a…read morecute little museum, $1 per person for entrance, that shows the archives of the time and some stories of the key players in the pony express that travelled through this area. The museum was recreated to be similar to the original building that was burned down in the Genoa Fire many years ago. It is a small display but gets the point across. The museum is placed on a beautiful grass park that is a great place to sit and relax, have a picnic or even a rum runner from the Genoa Bar- the oldest bar in Nevada.

I went here today, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. I have only ever passed through the Carson Valley…read more(Gardnerville, Minden, Genoa, Topaz Lake) area, but never visited. So I thought I would make a stop at the Visitors Center to get started. First things first: the Carson Valley Visitors Authority Visitors Center is located on the second floor of the Douglas Historical Society/Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center on US Highway 395 North in Gardnerville. It is located on the southeast corner of the second floor, in Suite C. There are stairs in the front, but if you have trouble walking, there is an accessible entrance in the back with an elevator. Just ring the buzzer. Make sure to hit "2" in the elevator, not "1", or you will go downstairs into the basement. When I got there, a museum employee greeted me and pointed me to my destination. The Visitors Center itself is small. Basically there is a small area on the right where you can get free brochures and maps, and a counter on the left. There are items for sale on the counter, behind the counter, by the counter, and where the brochures are on the right. They have items like coffee mugs, water bottles, hats, postcards, greeting cards, keychains, t-shirts, dress shirts and blouses, jackets. and a few books for sale. I asked how much the coffee mugs were, and the woman said $10, which was too expensive for my taste. Many of the things they have are expensive, like greeting cards for $4 or $4.50, jackets for $75, men's dress shirts, for $55, etc. They also have a a free tattoo sticker. The employee said this organization was non-profit, as opposed to the Carson City Visitors Authority, which is run by the Consolidated Municipality of Carson City itself. There are windows at the end, but the shades were drawn, due to the sun. They also have free coffee, but I declined since I did not want any caffeine so late in the day. By the door, there are several large maps posted. Curiously, they have Nevada Highway 50 (The Loneliest Road in America) guides/passports there for free, even though they are not on Highway 50 and cannot give you a stamp. You have to get them stamped at the places along Highway 50: Carson City, Dayton, Fernley, Fallon, Austin, Eureka, Ely, and Baker/Great Basin National Park. I took a few visitors guides about US Highway 395, Nevada, and the Carson Valley area to get started. I might come back if I have further questions or need more brochures or souvenirs. The woman behind the counter was nice, answered all my questions, and bagged everything I had up at the end. An employee in the back office was kind of staring out at customers in the counter area while talking to the employee up front, which was kind of strange/creepy. I guess he must have been bored. I really don't have any major complaints. The center was small, at least compared to the South Tahoe and Carson City Visitors Centers, but that is the way it is.

From the owner: The Visit Carson Valley visitors center provides information and maps to travelers.read more