Carson City

Nevada's state capital, one of the state's oldest communities, was established in 1851 as Eagle Station, a trading post and ranch on the Carson Branch of the California Immigrant Trail, by Frank and Warren L. Hall, George Follansbee, Joe and Frank Bernard, and A.J. Rollins. The station and surrounding valley took their name from an eagle skin stretched on the wall of the trading post. In 1858, Abraham Curry purchased much of the Eagle Ranch after finding that lots in Genoa were too expensive. With John Musser, Frank Proctor, and Ben Green, he platted a town called Carson City and left a plaza in the center of the planned community for a capitol building in case the territorial or state seat of government was located there in the future. In March 1861, Congress created the Nevada Territory. Seven months later, in November 1861, Carson City became the territorial capital through the efforts of Curry and William M. Stewart. When Nevada became a state three years later, Carson City was selected as the state capital, and by 1871 the present capitol building was completed in the plaza Curry had reserved for it.

Carson City, Nevada · United States