Skip to ContentFour history trips within about an hour of Reno: the Comstock silver towns, Donner Pass and the Donner Party, the railroad towns, and the capital. Each stop links its full page.
Checked November 3, 2026. Dates, prices and hours change; the official page wins.
- 1859Comstock silver strike
- 1851Mormon Station trading post
- 1869-71Capitol built (Wikipedia)
- 4transcontinental firsts claimed at Donner Summit
Every fact on this page was read on the linked It’s Reno place pages, which cite the official pages they came from. Hours, fees and dates change; the place page and the official site win.
The Comstock
Silver was found near Virginia City in 1859. Start with the Comstock Lode, then walk into the Chollar Mine, see the 1876 school and Piper’s Opera House, read about the Sutro Tunnel and Mark Twain’s newspaper, and ride the V&T. Bowers Mansion in Washoe Valley belonged to Comstock millionaires and opens for tours from Memorial Day weekend 2027.
Donner Pass and The Donner Party
The Donner Party story, the state park with its 1918 Pioneer Monument, Donner Lake and the pass, where the Donner Summit Historical Society counts four transcontinental firsts. The China Wall and Summit Tunnel are the railroad half of the story.
Town Histories
Reno began at a bridge on the Truckee River; Sparks was built by Southern Pacific in 1903; Truckee grew around its railroad depot; Genoa holds Nevada’s first permanent non-native settlement.
The Capital
Nevada State Museum fills the old U.S. Mint building, and the Capitol was built from 1869 to 1871 (dates from Wikipedia; hours not confirmed).
Old Mines
The park service says the Virginia City district includes abandoned mine shafts and adits. Stay out of any opening and behind any fence.
On The Map
What We Could Not Confirm
These items were not read on an official page when we checked, so we do not state them as fact. Who can confirm each one is named.
- Exact dates where sources differ are listed on each history page.
- Capitol hours and tours (Nevada State Library or Visit Carson City).
More to Explore
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best history day trip from Reno?
Virginia City is about 45 minutes away by our estimate and holds a mine tour, a museum school, an opera house and a train ride.
Is the Donner Party story told on site?
Donner Memorial State Park has a Visitor Center about the emigrants and the Donner Party, open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. per State Parks.
Sources
- Reno History
- The Comstock Lode
- The Donner Party
- Donner Pass
- Virginia City and The Comstock
- Genoa and Mormon Station
Cite this page: It’s Reno editorial team, “History Trips Guide: Comstock, Donner and Nevada,” itsreno.com, checked November 3, 2026.