To see how the mining elite lived, stop by to photograph the exterior of 'the Castle,' a mansion built in 1868 by Robert Graves, a Comstock visionary. It's only open for visitors on special occasions: check with the Virginia City Visitor Center.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
17.16 MILES
Stylized street scenes illustrate a century’s worth of automobile history at this engaging car museum. The collection is enormous and impressive, with one…
9.99 MILES
Just 12 miles north of Carson City off Hwy I-580, almost halfway to Reno, you'll find this fabulous regional park with manicured gardens perfect for…
11.6 MILES
Housed inside the 1869 US Mint building, the Nevada State Museum generally hosts one visiting exhibition to complement its four excellent permanent…
14.43 MILES
Good for hikes in summer and skiing and snowshoeing in winter; there's also a sledding hill.
28.97 MILES
Soar to the top of the world as you ride this gondola, which sweeps you from Heavenly Village to some 2.4 miles up the mountain in just 12 minutes. From…
Kings Beach State Recreation Area
20.75 MILES
In summer much of the action focuses on Kings Beach State Recreation Area, a 700ft-long beach that often gets deluged with sun-seekers and water rats. You…
17 MILES
In a sparkling building inspired by the geological formations of the Black Rock Desert north of town, a floating staircase leads to galleries showcasing…
16.93 MILES
Since opening its doors in 2011 as a children's museum, the Discovery rapidly grew in popularity and expanded its focus to become a world-class, hands-on…
Nearby Nevada attractions
0.12 MILES
Built by George Hearst in 1859, the mansion was purchased by miner John Mackay, who amassed a fortune of more than $130 million. Guided tours are…
0.21 MILES
One of the town's star attractions, this quirky museum is a fun, old-fashioned place offering good background information on mining the lode.
3. Bower's Mansion Regional Park
9.99 MILES
Just 12 miles north of Carson City off Hwy I-580, almost halfway to Reno, you'll find this fabulous regional park with manicured gardens perfect for…
4. Children's Museum of Northern Nevada
11.53 MILES
Carson City being the family-friendly place that it is, of course there's a museum that's just for kids, although adults are welcome if they're well…
11.6 MILES
Housed inside the 1869 US Mint building, the Nevada State Museum generally hosts one visiting exhibition to complement its four excellent permanent…
6. Galena Creek Recreation Area
11.72 MILES
Nineteen miles from downtown Reno, a complex network of scenic hiking trails beginning at this recreation area within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest…
7. Nevada State Capitol Building
11.81 MILES
Built in 1870, the handsome Nevada State Capitol is complete with a silver-covered dome in a not-so-subtle nod to the mineral that made this state famous…
8. Nevada State Railroad Museum
12.71 MILES
Loved by adults and kids alike, the hugely popular Nevada State Railroad Museum is worth a visit, even if you're not a rail buff, for its impressive…