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.

This is a really well done children's museum. The water exhibit featuring sensory play and…read moreeducation about the water cycle of the Sierra Nevadas, lakes, river and system of dams was awesome. My boys loved the space exhibit and the builder workshop, the project that day was building flower boxes out of wood. Kids could use real tools and fill them with soil to take home.

I will say the kiddos love this place…read more We have been twice. Before I wanted to get a membership, but now seeing how it is. I am happy thay we just go once in a while. The museum is not very large and most of our kiddos love the Truckee river exhibit as they play there more. It could be the age. Just bring some spare clothes or a towel as they may be drenched. As they get older they may like to do the other exhibits more. They have lego, space, anatomy, physics, and engineering zones. They also have a lab with daily activities. The amazing part is there are plenty of things to do. The downside is the parking lot gets packed fast, but thats a good thing. So give yourself time if looking for a spot. Its super cool for the kiddos and there is even a cute little toddler playground. So please enjoy the space and time.

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 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.

This museum is a hidden gem. They're constantly bringing new and exciting exhibitions to our…read morecommunity, specifically those that are geared towards our elementary aged kiddos, which I sincerely appreciate. Most recently we visited Toytopia. This exhibit offers the chance to explore a hands-on history of toys from the past and into the future. My kids loved the oversized robotic claw, reminiscent of an amped up arcade machine. It was a blast trying to get the individually articulating fingers to close around the ball in order to lift it into the basket for the big reward. We also enjoyed the oversized battleship game. So fun to play and we spent 20-30 min there. Mr Potato Head was old school fun too. We made a competition out of it to see who could make the wackiest example. I think I won... or maybe my kids let me win. But the favorite had to be the mini arcade they had setup with some of the best old school cabinets. Donkey Kong, DK Jr., Dig Dug and so many more are all here as part of the exhibit and you could spend a long time here without realizing it! Oh and there's even a Zoltar fortune teller too! When you're done at toytopia you can go learn the history of Wilbur D May on the other side of the museum. I personally love exploring the artifacts and treasures he collected from his travels, especially the hunting and fishing trophies! All in all, a great little place to spend a

Wonderful experience for my family. Roaming around the gardens and taking a tour of the museum…read more Plenty of places for a picnic on the grounds. Just understand that May was a "big game" hunter when that was not frowned upon as it is now. Many of his "trophies" are found throughout the museum.

A treasure of rich history that dates to before Nevada was a state! There's drama and beauty…read morepreserved in this firehouse museum. Originally housed on the second floor of Station 1 on the corner of Musser and Curry, the concept was retained as the station was moved to Stewart Street, and a dedicated museum room now displays the memorabilia. "Fire trucks" from bygone ages are on static display and how lucky we are to see them in person and imagine the stories they could tell us. Each one of the vehicles is a literal work of art! A history of the Carson City Fire Department is available to read at Carson.org. Reading it can bring to life the photos and displays you'll see in the Museum. There is no charge for visiting the Museum. There is a donation box available. Parking is adjacent to the fire station. At the time of visit, there was a restroom available in the reception area of the station, near the entrance door to the museum. A few blocks away is the Warren Engine Company building at the corner of Musser and Curry Streets. Directly across from it is the site where Station 1 used to stand. History buffs and firefighting enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the CC Fire Museum!

Driving down Stewart Street we see a sign for Carson City Fire Museum…read more Let's stop and check it out. It may not look open, but check in with the receptionist and she will open the large one room museum for you. It houses original fire equipment, memorabilia, and a couple of engines. The history of Warren Engine Company No. 1 (WECO) is- it was organized on June 17, 1863, in Carson City. WECO is the oldest volunteer fire company west of the Mississippi River. And probably the oldest continuously operated fire company in the nation. The name comes from the Revolutionary War hero, General Warren. The original Hunneman hand pumper, two hose carts, and 300 feet of fire hose on display in the museum. In the late 1800's it was an honor to be a member of a fire company. There was a pride of being the first to get water on a fire. Today WECO is still an all-volunteer company that works beside other firefighters and paid personnel of the Carson City Fire Department. In 2023 WECO is celebrating 160 years of continuous service. Stop in for about an hour and check their history. The equipment is in beautiful condition and plaques are full of great information. It's free. Just park behind Carson City Number 1 station in the lot.

I'm not into real old cars that look like they are from a gangster movie or Mary Poppins. But I…read morefound this museum well worthwhile especially considering the modest $16 entry fee in today's inflated price world. While most of the cars are in the 1900-1940 year range there's enough other variety to keep it from feeling monotonous (like a Porsche race car, NASCAR cars, jet car, a handful of interesting motorcycles, etc.) Imagining the man hours that went into building some of these intricate older cars is mind boggling. What I found most interesting was reading the couple of paragraphs on most of the plaques next to the cars. Just looking at the cars without reading the story behind them is a big mistake here. To go slowly through the entire place and read everything is probably a half day (4-hour) endeavor. So plan to devote at the absolute minimum 2 hours to your visit. The only downside is there isn't a cafe to have something to eat or drink. Hosting private events seems to be the focus here when it comes to food and beverage service. Still a must visit for anyone interested in cars or not.

What a great tour- make sure you join the docent tour while here…read more So much great info. Ours was at 1:30- not sure if it's the same time everyday. Bring your badge if you are military or first responder. Huge savings- drops it down to $14 I didn't see the sign til later, but felt the tour was worth the regular admission We popped in due to a storm- so glad we did. They also have a great gift store. Hubby bought several shirts he was happy about. They also were doing a tour for the boys and girls club while we were there. The kids were really into the tour/ they had a great guide. They also offer theme parties here. There's a water bottle filling station by the restrooms- if you forget your bottle you can purchase a water bottle for $2 each. You will want to spend time here- so don't forget to hydrate and wear good walking shoes

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.