REVIEW #1700! One…read moreof the things I enjoy about traveling is the sometimes random discovery of local and historical points of interest. And since part of Gayle's family is from Genoa, and that someday we might actually move here, it's fun to look around and see what I might find. This morning, I started out trying to find a newspaper, but instead just started driving around. And as I drove down Genoa Lane, I came upon the Hanging Tree. One of the worst chapters in the history of Genoa took place in 1897 when a drifter, Adam Uber, accused of murdering a popular teamster, Hans Anderson, was lynched. Uber was dragged from his jail cell in the night and hanged from this tree (along what was then called Boyd's Lane). According to the local legend, all of the perpetrators of the lynching later suffered injuries, great tragedies in their families, or terrible calamities. The story has been immortalized by the Carson Valley Historical Society in their annual progressive play, "The Curse of the Hanging Tree". There is a plaque on the tree east of Genoa on Genoa Lane.

For a very reasonable $5 entry fee, this place is packed with history. So many rooms to explore and…read moreinfo panels to read. When I went, there was a friendly and chatty volunteer at the front desk. I forgot her name but she made the experience a welcoming one. Don't forget to sign the guest book and browse their collection of books for sale. Everything is reasonably priced.

Soo much history packed into this museum (that happens to be in the courthouse)…read more The volunteer/ front desk guy was so knowledgeable and passionate, was fun to learn the historical details from him.

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 was my second museum in one day so I didn't look super close at everything. The staff was…read morefriendly and helpful and there are 2 floors of exhibits. The first floor had displays about the wild mustangs, early ranches and the Washoe Tribe. The Chamber of Commerce is also located inside and has an assortment of brochures and a friendly, helpful staff member. There is also a small bookstore on the first floor with all sorts of fun and interesting books about Nevada and western history. The downstairs is divided into exhibits about various businesses. For example: The telephone company, a dress shop, mens fashion, and a saloon. Outside there are agriculture exhibits featuring machinery, a carriage and other ranching implements. There are bathrooms located on the lower floor. It is not open on the weekends.

This is a fantastic museum that my husband and I found while staying at the Carson Valley Inn. The…read moremurals and displays are beautiful. I especially loved the room dedicated to the local Washoe and Paiute people. There are gorgeous baskets, arrowheads, and beadwork on display along with historical pictures, bows and arrows, and other unique pieces. This room was put together by the Native American people themselves. The people who work there are friendly and informative. It costs just five dollars to check this place out and it is well worth it. Besides the Washoe room, there are displays related to the wild mustangs of Nevada including local legend, "Wild Horse Annie," wagon trails, mining, pioneer life with recreations of a mercantile, a barber shop, a beauty parlor, and typical early domestic items. You will learn about the first female doctor in Nevada, an early veterinarian, and another local legend, Snowshoe Thompson. He delivered mail from Placerville, Ca to Carson City, Nv. On wooden skis!! I recommend this awesome place to anyone passing through the area.

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.

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 museum was very interesting but the volunteers made it special. Kyle was full of knowledge and…read morevery gracious with his time. We learned so much about state history as well as the history of the individual cars and engines. The scavenger hunt encouraged us to look closer at the exhibits, and the gift shop has a really great selection of pins if you collect.

Very interesting and varied displays. The coin press was impressive. And the mine was fun for the…read morekids.

What a cute little (and I really mean little) town. Although Genoa has a much larger residential…read morearea than the town itself, the town consist of a few shops, restaurants, town hall, museum and park in the "town" area. A quaint little place to stop on our way to Walley's Hotsprings.

1/18-19/2025: Have you experienced driving the entire circumference of Lake Tahoe? It's quite…read moremassive and takes at least, a couple hours drivetime from South Lake Tahoe to North Lake Tahoe. In addition, there are so many different residential subdivisions comprising of log cabins, mansions, villas, gargantuan estates to typical stucco homes. IMHO--It's best exploring ALL of Lake Tahoe, i.e., please don't consume all of your time just visiting the casinos . . . Visit the State Park, go kayaking--GO OUTSIDE!

So good to be back in the old neighborhood. With our good…read morefriends back in the area also, we plan to come back here more and more frequently, off season of course. :) Quality/Quantity - I see that you are still trying to get this place to be more upscale...? Still see construction. Casino brands continue to change (Bally), etc. And more importantly, I see more and more craft breweries pop up, thank you, lol. Approximately 16.5 sq miles. 21k+ population. Atmosphere - Huge tourist attraction, so we try to ONLY come during off peak seasons. More and more nicer restaurants are popping up, thank you. But they are typically too small and the waits are typically too long, hence the off season visits. Service - Tourist attraction, so the service reflects that. Price - Slightly above average, but again that is the price for tourists. Owner Comments - Congrats on your success since 1965 incorporation. 1944 - First gaming, Harvey's Wagon Wheel Saloon and Gaming. 1960 - Winter Olympics. 2021 - Caldor Fire forced the entire city to evacuate.

Had a great time!' Gary was the best tour ever and had so much helpful information. Best part of…read moreour visit to Virginia city!! Thank you from Tommy!!!

Chollar Mine Tour - A Glimpse into the Golden Age of Virginia City…read more Recommended by locals, I made my way to the Chollar Mine, once the 5th largest mine during the 19th-century Gold Rush era. In its prime, it yielded an overwhelming amount of gold--worth millions of dollars then and easily billions in today's value. Scattered across the grounds are authentic mining tools, giving visitors a sense of the equipment used back in the day. One highlight was the rock smasher, which the staff explained in detail. From the start, John and Gary gave me a warm welcome and patiently answered all my questions. Before we entered the mine, Gary provided a fascinating introduction to its history and operations--explaining how miners worked in 8-hour shifts, the intense conditions they faced underground, and how they coped with the heat from the geothermal groundwater. Equipped with a helmet, I followed the narrow tunnels where the ceiling is low enough to give you a bump if you're not careful. Along the old rail tracks used for transporting minerals, Gary demonstrated the rope-and-pulley system, drilling tools, and even how miners once relied on rats and candles to test air quality inside the mine. He also pointed out the split line in the rock that marked different mining outputs, giving a vivid sense of how geologists identified the veins. To make the experience more tactile, he even handed me some clay samples from the mine, so I could literally feel the earth that once hid so much gold. Unfortunately, visitors cannot go as deep into the mine as I had hoped--I wanted to experience the underground heat myself--but for safety reasons, the tour is limited. The cave can be slippery, and you'll often need to bend down to avoid injury. After the tour, Gary enthusiastically offered to take photos for guests, adding a personal touch to the visit. Beyond the tour itself, I learned that John now owns the mine, while Gary has written a novel that brings Virginia City's Golden Age to life. --- Final Thoughts The Chollar Mine Tour is more than just a history lesson--it's an immersive journey into the life of 19th-century miners. Thanks to the passion and effort of John and Gary, visitors can better appreciate the challenges, ingenuity, and culture of Virginia City's mining heritage. ---