Skip to ContentReno and Lake Tahoe grew up around the 1859 Comstock silver strike, the Sierra emigrant trails and the 1860s railroad. Here is its history in one place: 44 historic sites you can visit (5 free), 6 National Historic Landmarks, 48 historic tours and trails, 24 history events and a 60-event timeline, each checked against an official page.
- 1859year the Comstock silver strike began, the first major U.S. silver strike (NPS)
- 44historic sites to visit
- 6National Historic Landmarks
- 48tours and trails
- Reno and Lake Tahoe history by era
- Historic sites by area
- Tours and trails
- History events
- Markers, archives, America 250
Reno and Lake Tahoe History by Era
The short version, era by era. Every date is on the full 60-event timeline with its source.
- about 6,000 years ago: TRPA’s Lake Tahoe human-history timeline dates artifacts unearthed at Kings Beach to about 6,000 years ago, the earliest dated human presence in the Tahoe Basin on this timeline.
- 1841-1869: California Trail emigrant travel begins with the Bidwell-Bartleson party in 1841 and continues until the transcontinental railroad is completed in 1869; NPS says over 250,000 people made the trip.
- 1846-10: The Donner-Reed party reaches the Truckee Lake area in October 1846 after heavy snow has begun and is trapped for about four months; NPS counts 87 people who began the trek (see notes for a differing count).
- 1859: Placer miners and prospectors make two strikes of silver and gold ore near Virginia City, which NPS calls the first major silver strike in the U.S. (the Comstock discovery).
- 1864-10-31: Nevada becomes the 36th state, days before the 8 November presidential election; Carson City is chosen as the state capital.
- 1867-08: The Summit Tunnel at Donner Pass, hand-drilled and blasted by Chinese laborers, is completed in August 1867; its plaque says it is 1659 feet long and took over 15 months.
- 1872-08-24: Superintendent Henry M. Yerington drives the last spike of the V&T about a mile west of Carson City, linking Virginia City with Reno; the first through train covers the 52-mile route on 1 September and regular passenger service begins 1 October 1872.
- 1926-10-23: Reno’s first arch is dedicated over Virginia Street; in 1929 the slogan ‘Reno, Biggest Little City in the World’ wins a $100 prize.
- 1960-02-18: The VIII Winter Olympics open at Squaw Valley on 18 February 1960, with competition 19-28 February; Olympedia counts 665 participants from 30 countries.
- 1986-08-01: Hot August Nights begins on 1 August 1986, with about 10,000 spectators at the first concert (the organizer’s history page and a 2025 release name different first venues; see notes).
- 2021-09-13: Squaw Valley Ski Resort announces it is renamed Palisades Tahoe.
Historic Sites to Visit, by Area
The highlights in each region. Hours, admission and every site are on historic sites in Reno and Lake Tahoe.
Historic Tours and Trails
48 ways to see Reno and Lake Tahoe history on foot, by car or with a ranger. All of them: historic tours in Reno and Lake Tahoe.
| Tour or trail | Where | Price | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comstock diesel train, Virginia City to Gold Hill (Official page) | Virginia City and Gold Hill | See official site | Returns Memorial Day weekend 2027 (operator wording); daily train times: See official site |
| RailZephyr railbike tour (Official page) | Carson River Canyon (V&T line) | Introductory price advertised, amount not stated | Launches spring 2027 |
| V&T holiday trains (Candy Cane Express and Electric Holiday Train of Lights) (Official page) | Virginia City | See official site | Candy Cane Express Nov 29 to Dec 20, 2026; Electric Holiday Train of Lights Nov 29 to Dec 19, 2026 |
| Chollar Mine underground tour (Official page) | Virginia City | Varies, call; cash only; groups of 4+ with a two-hour minimum | Summer: opens about 11 a.m. daily, tours about a quarter past each hour, last tour 4 p.m.; winter: call |
| Ponderosa Mine Tour | Virginia City | See official site | Year-round (Tourism Commission mines page) |
| Comstock Gold Mill narrated tour | Virginia City | See official site | May to October, Fri to Mon 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Tourism Commission) |
| Virginia City Architectural Walking Tour and Audio Tours | Virginia City | See official site | Self-guided |
| Virginia City Historic District self-guided exploration (NPS) | Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City, Dayton | Free to walk the streets; attractions have their own prices | Year-round |
History Events Coming Up
Reenactments, living history and candlelight tours with dates the organizers have posted. All 24: history events in Reno and Lake Tahoe.
| Event | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Dia de los Muertos Celebration at the Nevada State Museum | Carson City | Nov 6, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026 |
| Historic Reno Preservation Society speaker program: History and Architecture of the W. M. Keck Museum | Reno (South Valleys Library, 15650-A Wedge Parkway) | Nov 8, 2026 |
| Veterans Day Parade, Virginia City | Virginia City | Nov 11, 2026 |
| Haunted Ghost Tour at the Gold Hill Hotel | Gold Hill | Nov 12, 2026 |
| V&T Candy Cane Express | Virginia City | Nov 29, 2026 to Dec 20, 2026 |
| V&T Electric Holiday Train of Lights | Virginia City | Nov 29, 2026 to Dec 19, 2026 |
| Christmas on the Comstock | Virginia City | Dec 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 |
| Parade of Lights and Magical Christmas Fireworks Show | Virginia City | Dec 5, 2026 |
Historical Markers, Archives and America 250
| Program | Run by | What it is | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada Historical Markers | Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) | Numbered roadside markers with short histories, for example No. 30 Reno, No. 44 Carson City, No. 63 Truckee River, No. 88 Sparks and No. 196 U.S. Mint Carson City. | Official page |
| National Register of Historic Places | National Park Service | The official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation, authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. | Official page |
| National Historic Landmarks | National Park Service | Recognizes historic properties that illustrate U.S. heritage; buildings, sites, structures, objects and districts. Virginia City Historic District is one. (over 2,600 NHLs in the U.S.) | Official page |
| California Historical Landmarks | California Office of Historic Preservation | One of California’s registration programs, alongside the National Register, California Register and Points of Historical Interest. The Donner Pioneer Monument is landmark #134. | Official page |
| California National Historic Trail | National Park Service | Emigrant route used from 1841 to 1869 through northern Nevada and over the Sierra, including the Truckee and Carson routes. (over 250,000 people made the trip) | Official page |
| Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records | State of Nevada | State archives with a searchable archives tool, subject guides and an Ask an Archivist service. | Official page |
| UNR Special Collections and University Archives | University of Nevada, Reno Libraries | Collects unique and rare materials focused mainly on the Northwestern Great Basin and the University; at 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno. Fall 2026 hours: Mon-Thu 9am-4pm drop-in, Fri 9am-4pm by appointment. | Official page |
| Online Nevada Encyclopedia | Nevada Humanities | Online Nevada reference with an A-Z index, map, exhibit galleries and lesson plans. Article pages returned server errors on 2026-11-03, so no article is cited here. | Official page |
| Mark Twain Project | Mark Twain Project | Indexes Samuel Clemens’s writings for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, October 1862 to February 1866. | Official page |
| Tahoe Regional Planning Agency | California and Nevada by compact | Created by the 1969 bi-state compact; publishes a Lake Tahoe human-history timeline. | Official page |
| Sierra State Parks Foundation | Sierra State Parks Foundation (founded 1974) | Partners with California State Parks around Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake; runs historic house tours and park stores; supports eight parks including Donner Memorial and Emerald Bay (Vikingsholm). (8 parks listed) | Official page |
| Truckee-Donner Historical Society | Truckee-Donner Historical Society | Local history articles on the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy party, Truckee railroading, Chinatown, lumber and ice. | Official page |
| Donner Summit Historical Society | Donner Summit Historical Society | Covers Donner Summit from Native use through emigrants, railroad, Lincoln Highway and skiing; offers a monthly newsletter, books, historic hikes and interpretive signage along Old Highway 40. | Official page |
| Donner Memorial State Park | California State Parks | Visitor center covers the Donner Party, Chinese railroad construction and early motoring over Donner Pass; the Pioneer Monument (June 6, 1918) is California Historical Landmark #134. | Official page |
| Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum | State of Nevada | Museum on the former federal boarding school (1890-1980); opened January 13, 2020. | Official page |
| Reno Historical | See official site | Online items on Reno places, for example the Historic Reno Arch. | Official page |
National Historic Landmarks
Reno and Lake Tahoe has 6 National Historic Landmarks on the National Park Service list. See every Reno and Lake Tahoe National Historic Landmark by region, with which ones you can visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Nevada become a state and what is its capital?
Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864, days before the November 8 presidential election, and Carson City was chosen as the state capital. Source: https://jic.nv.gov/About/History_of_Nevada/ and https://shpo.nv.gov/nevadas-historical-markers/historical-markers/carson-city
Who took the first wagons over the Sierra Nevada in this region?
The Stephens-Townsend-Murphy party of 1844 pioneered the first wagon route from the Humboldt River through the Sierra Nevada, and its wagons crossed Donner Summit on November 25, 1844. Sources: https://www.nps.gov/places/truckee-river-tahoe-pyramid-trail.htm and https://www.truckeehistory.org/stephens-townsend-murphy-party.html
What started the Comstock boom?
Placer miners and prospectors made two strikes of silver and gold ore near Virginia City in 1859, which NPS calls the first major silver strike in the U.S.; the main boom ran 1860-1880. Source: https://www.nps.gov/places/virginia-city-historic-district.htm
When was Reno founded and why?
In 1868 Myron Lake offered land for a depot to the Central Pacific Railroad and the town was laid out, named for Civil War officer Jesse Lee Reno. Source: https://shpo.nv.gov/nevadas-historical-markers/historical-markers/reno
Where can I research Nevada and Tahoe history in person?
UNR Special Collections and University Archives, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, focuses on the Northwestern Great Basin; fall 2026 hours are Mon-Thu 9am-4pm drop-in and Fri 9am-4pm by appointment. Source: https://library.unr.edu/places/special-collections
Last checked November 3, 2026 by the It’s Reno editors against each operator’s, agency’s or organizer’s own page.
Sources
- TRPA, Lake Tahoe’s Human History (timeline), read 2026-11-03
- NPS California National Historic Trail (places), read 2026-11-03
- Nevada SHPO Historical Marker 63, Truckee River, read 2026-11-03
- Truckee-Donner Historical Society, Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party of 1844, read 2026-11-03
- Nevada Historical Markers
- National Register of Historic Places
- National Historic Landmarks
- California Historical Landmarks
- Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records
- UNR Special Collections and University Archives
- Online Nevada Encyclopedia
- Mark Twain Project
- Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
- Sierra State Parks Foundation
- Truckee-Donner Historical Society
- Donner Summit Historical Society
- Donner Memorial State Park
- Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum
- Reno Historical
On The Map
Cite this page: It's Reno, “Reno and Lake Tahoe History: Historic Sites, Landmarks, Tours and Timeline”, itsreno.com/history/ (updated ). By the It's Reno editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.