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Carson City’s Kit Carson Trail
In Carson City, treasures await if you follow the blue line. Also known as the Kit Carson Trail, the blue line is a 2.5 mile walking tour of Carson City's picturesque west side, which includes nearly 60 noteworthy historic homes and buildings.

The first 13 places listed in the Kit Carson Trail brochure include the city's most historic government buildings and landmarks including the silver-domed State Capitol, built between 1870-71, the former U.S. Mint (now the Nevada State Museum), built in 1869 and the Governor's Mansion, completed in 1909.

From the state government complex of buildings, the blue line leads to the city's historic churches, largely clustered in the vicinity of Division Street, between King and Telegraph.

These include St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church (completed in 1871), St. Peter's Episcopal Church (opened in 1868), the First United Methodist Church (1865) and the First Presbyterian Church (1864). The latter is considered the oldest church building still in service in the state while the Methodist Church is the state's oldest religious congregation, established in 1859.

From the churches, the blue line leads into the city's historic residential neighborhoods. The houses range from the modest, such as the 1862 Smail House (512 N. Curry), which is considered a fine example of Greek revival architecture, to the elaborate, like Henry M. Yerington's grand Victorian home, built in 1863, once home of the superintendent of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad.

Other notable abodes on the trail include: the Alfred Chartz House (412 N. Nevada), built in 1876, and named for a renowned 19th century Nevada lawyer; the Abe Curry House, an unusual sandstone home built in 1871 by the city's founder with stone from the state prison quarry; and the Frank Norcross House, built in 1906 by a former Nevada Supreme Court Justice (and later owned by former U.S. Senator Paul Laxalt).

For additional adventures in the Old West try out these driving and walking tours:
Carson Valley, Comstock Highway, Gold Hill, Lake Tahoe, Markleeville, Pyramid Lake, Reno/Sparks, Silver City, Virginia City, Genoa.

For more information on the Kit Carson Trail, contact the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1-800-NEVADA-1.