Kit Carson Trail The legacy of Kit Carson, the explorer known for mapping the west and paving the way for Carson City’s foundation, is still alive along the 2.5-mile path that bears his name. If your time is short, we recommend you take the suggested one-hour walk.
Postcard-perfect places welcome you to one of the largest historic residential districts in the West...and, oh, they have stories to tell!
Follow the Kit Carson Trail. A painted blue line and bronze medallions along the sidewalk mark the route. Featured stops at landmarks include 1800s-era Victorian-style and turn-of-the-century homes and mansions, museums, courthouses, churches, a depot... even a brewery. More than 60 landmarks are noted along the trail.
A modern Podcast of historic measure. If you’d like to preview this wonderful tour in the comfort of your own home and help plan your trip, download the Podcast. The “Talking Houses” tales are ninety-second narratives of frontier life, anecdotes and secrets of each home, and sound effects including train whistles, horse-drawn carriages, and John Wayne’s voice at the Krebs-Petersen house where he filmed his last movie, “The Shootist.” Celebrated locals of yesteryear tell the tales, including Mark Twain, Carson City founder Abe Curry, and Hannah Clapp, the town’s original feminist.
Bring your Bike. The trail is also an established bicycling tour route.
Pick up a map and rent an audio CD or listen to the Podcast. For more information on the Kit Carson Trail, stop by the Visitors Center at 1900 S. Carson Street in Carson City and pick up a map and/or rent an audio CD, or visit our Website at visitcarsoncity.com and download a Podcast. Feel free to call us at 1-800-NEVADA-1, (775)687-7410 — we’re here to help you discover the wild west!

Not enough time to take the full 2.5 mile tour. Below is an abbreviated version. Talking Houses Tour Suggested 1-hour Walk: Start at the Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King Street. After viewing the art gallery, follow the Blue Line north on Minnesota. You’ll pass the Stewart-Nye, Edwards, Springmeyer, and Lee homes. Turn left on W. Telegraph, walk three blocks to Mountain St. and turn right. You’ll find the Robinson, Krebs-Peterson (site of John Wayne’s last movie, “The Shootist”, and Rickey homes. At the corner of Mountain and Robinson you’ll also see the Governor’s Mansion, the Bliss Mansion, and the Bender house. Continue east on Robinson, passing the Stewart, Cavell, and Yerington homes. Turn left on Curry and cross the street to the Nevada State Museum. Complete your walk with a tour of the museum, if time allows.
For the return trip follow Curry St. south to W. King St. Turn right (west) and follow 3 blocks to the Brewery Arts Center, where you began!
There is plenty of free parking in the historic areas.
* Many of our Talking Houses are private homes. Please respect our owners’ privacy.