Artifacts
Ask Carson City-zens what brings visitors to their hometown and you may be surprised at the variety of answers.
Some single out the Capitol Building, with its silver-painted cupola, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, located at the heart of Carson City, and constructed between 1869 and 1871. To keep costs down, the building sandstone was obtained free of charge from the Nevada State Prison quarry, just outside of Carson City. But, in spite of this, the construction costs mounted to some $170,000, exceeding even the highest bid.
The Carson City Mint (now the Nevada State Museum), is another finely constructed landmark. Originally a branch of the United Sates Mint, and built at the peak of the silver boom, it was where 50 issues of of silver coins and 50 issues of gold coins were minted between 1870 and 1893. These coins bore the "CC" mint mark. The mint was established in Carson City to facilitate minting of silver coins from the silver in the Comstock Lode in Virginia City.
Others point a selection of smaller museums, showcasing history, natural history, trains, interactive exhibits for children, and more...Nevada-style gaming is here, too, but on a smaller, friendlier scale.
The following sampling makes a good short-list of what not to miss while you're visiting. Or what to do/see again on your next trip.

M u s e u m s
Note: Due to ongoing budget cuts, the hours are subject to change without notice. Please call to confirm hours prior to your visit.

Carson City
Forman-Roberts House Park and Museum 1207 N. Carson St. (775)887-2174 or call for a tour (775)882-1805. Fri, Sat. & Sun. 1-3pm. $3 per person. The Roberts House Museum is an outstanding example of Gothic Revival architecture. It was built in 1864 by Solomen W. Foreman in Old Washoe City. The James Doane Roberts family purchased this home in Old Washoe City in 1865. It was moved to Carson City November 6, 1874 and placed where it is located today. The James Doane Roberts family lived in the house until February 1968. Plans to raze it drew a public outcry fierce enough to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for restoration.
Brewery Arts Center 449 W. King St. (775)883-1976. Built in the mid-1800s, the Brewery Arts Center is the historic home of the Tahoe Beer Company. It has been restored to its 1864 grandeur complete with the original tin ceiling. For over twenty-five years, the Brewery Arts Center has been the Carson City area’s premier literary, educational, visual and performing arts center. The Center is home to numerous arts groups in all disciplines. Artisans gift store 10am-4pm Mon-Sat, no charge.
Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada 813 N. Carson St. (775)884-2226. 10am-4:30pm daily. New Nevada hands-on, interactive exhibit learning for kids of all ages. Stroll down the keyboard of a giant piano, where discovery and fun go together!
Nevada State Library and Archives 100 N. Stewart St. (775)684-3360. Mon.-Fri. 10am-2pm. No charge. Featuring rotating exhibits, a video on Nevada’s admission to the Union and the original State Constitution. The building’s design incorporates the state’s first printing building (1885-86).
Nevada State Railroad Museum 2180 S. Carson St. (US 395) (775)687-6953. Fri.-Mon. 8:30am-4:30pm.  Considered one of the finest regional railroad museums in the country, it includes five steam locomotives and several restored coaches and freight cars. Most featured equipment is from the Comstock Era’s Virginia & Truckee Railroad, America’s richest and most famous short line, call for schedule.
Nevada State Museum 600 N. Carson St. (775)687-4810. Wed.-Sat.  8:30am-4:30pm. Originally built as a U.S. Mint that operated from 1870 to 1895. Today the museum is known worldwide for exhibits ranging from Dat So La Lee Washo Indian baskets to Nevada natural history to Coin Press No. 1.
Nevada State Capitol Corner of Musser and Carson Sts. (775)687-5030. Mon. - Fri. 8am-5pm. No charge. Guided tours available for groups. Completed in 1871, Nevada’s quintessential, most recognizable landmark with its silver-colored cupola. Changing historic exhibits and state governors’ portraits.
Genoa/Carson Valley
Genoa Courthouse 5th and Main Sts. (775)782-4325. 10am-4:30pm, mid-May through mid-Oct. $3 adults, $2 children. Gift shop. The original Douglas County Courthouse from 1865 to 1916, later serving as the Genoa School. Today, exhibits focus on earliest settlers, Washo Indians and the original courtroom and jail.
Dangberg Historic Home Ranch Off Hwy. 88, Minden (775) 783-9417. Tours available by reservation and events. The “Home Ranch” was once a self-sufficient center of operation for a 48,000-acre ranch. Built from the mid-1800s through the early 1900s, the ranch house, the old stone cellar, the laundry, and the carriage house are open for tours two days a week by reservation. This is Old West history at its best!
Mormon Station State Historic Park 2295 Main St., Genoa (775)782-2590. Thurs. - Sun. 10am-4pm, mid-May through mid-Oct. Fee for group tours. A trading post established during the California Gold Rush where travelers rested and purchased supplies before tackling the Sierra Nevada. The first permanent settlement in Nevada was later renamed Genoa. Museum and stockade exhibits. Picnic area.
Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center 1477 Hwy. 395, Gardnerville. (775)782-2555. Mon.-Sat., 10am-4pm. Gift shop. Carson Valley history, American Indian to present with focus on Washo, Basques, ranching and daily life. The museum is housed in a historic 1912 building.
Virginia City
Liberty Engine Company No. 1 Comstock Fire Museum 125 S. C St. (775)847-0717. Daily mid-May through mid-Oct. 10am-5pm. No charge, donations appreciated. Vintage photographs, uniforms, tools and apparatus from the Comstock Era on display.
Silver Terrace Cemeteries North end of town. (775)847-0281. Daily sunrise-sunset. No charge. Established in 1867, Virginia City's main burial ground is a collection of several distinct cemeteries. Today these cemeteries hold over 6,000 burials, of which fewer than 1,300 are makred. Walking within the historic cemeteries of Silver Terrace in Virginia City and Gold Hill cemeteries in Gold Hill is a stroll back in time. Visitors are surrounded by stories of Comstock life and tragic, frequent death of its historic residents.
Fourth Ward School Cultural Center & Museum 537 S. C St. (775)847-0975. Daily May through Oct. 10am-5pm. $5 adults, $3 ages 6-12, free under age 6. Built in 1876, this is the last wooden schoolhouse of this type of structure that remains standing in the U.S. The school houses permanaent and changing exhibits of the history and culture of the Comstock.
Piper’s Opera House 12 N. B St. (Corner Union and B Sts.) (775)847-0433. http://www.piperslive.com/Call for hours and tour information. Long considered one of our nation’s most famous performance venues and one of the most significant vintage theatres in America. Piper’s Opera House continues to host performance events that illuminate the eclectic character of America and greatly enrich American theatre.
St. Mary’s Art Center 55 N. R St. (775)847-7774. stmarysartcenter.org Thurs.-Sun., May-Oct. 11am-4pm. No charge. Built in 1875 as the historic St. Mary Louise Hospital, this out-of-the-way destination is the perfect experience for artists, art lovers or those just wanting to get their toes wet with a bit of creativity.
Comstock History Center 20 N. E St. (775)847-0419. Thurs.-Sun. 11am-4pm. No charge, donations appreciated. Authentic Virginia & Truckee Railroad Number 18, DAYTON steam locomotive and tender car, built in 1873, on display plus various changing exhibits about Comstock mining, archaeology, architecture and lifestyles.
Silver State Peace Officers Museum at the Storey County Courthouse 26 S. B St. (775)847-7800. Daily May-Oct., 11am-5pm, $5 adults, $3 6-12, 6 and under free. Located within the historic 1876 working Storey County Courthouse. The old jail has been converted to a museum and houses an extensive collection of U.S. law enforcement memorabilia dating back to the 1780s.
Additional V. C. Museums: 
Marshall Mint Museum, Western Historic Radio Museum
Julia C. Bulette Red Light Museum, Territorial Enterprise
Mark Twain Museum, The Way It Was Museum
St. Mary’s in the Mountains Catholic Church & Mad Monk Museum & Wine Cellar
Washoe Club Haunted Museum
Mackay Mansion Museum