New Washoe City in Washoe County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Horses to Horsepower

Time to Gas Up!

By Cosmos Mariner, June 21, 2016

1. Horses to Horsepower Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

HISTORIANS DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW the origins of this building, but if the Bowers built it, they most likely used it as a carriage house. Carriage houses were typically separate from the primary dwelling and housed the horse-drawn carriages, carriage equipment and tack.

WHEN MODES OF TRANSPORTATION shifted, this building took on several different functions including a shop, an electrical building and garage. As more and more auto traffic moved between Reno and Carson City, Mr. Riter (owner of the mansion, 1902-1946) recognized that folks needed a convenient place to fill up their gas tanks. Back in 1924, this was the place to buy Quick Starting Red Crown Gasoline.

Once an important gas stop, today this building still provides an essential service to visitors here at Bowers Mansion!

Erected by Washoe County Department of Regional Parks and Open Space.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles.

Location. 39° 17.09′ N, 119° 50.492′

Marker detail: Transportation to Bowers Mansion image. Click for full size.

Courtesy Nevada Historical Society

2. Marker detail: Transportation to Bowers Mansion

In the nineteenth century, horse-drawn carriages, or horse and buggys were the common mode of transportation. This photo is in front of Bowers mansion, circa late 1800's.

Later, the trip from Reno to Bowers took two or three hours by car, depending on how many flat tires needed to be repaired!

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W. Marker is in New Washoe City, Nevada, in Washoe County. Marker can be reached from Bowers Mansion Road (Alternate U.S. 395) 5.8 miles north of Eastlake Boulevard, on the left when traveling north. Marker is mounted at eye-level on the old carriage house in Bowers Mansion Regional Park, on the north side of the mansion. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4005 Bowers Mansion Road, Washoe Valley NV 89704, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Rusty Relics (within shouting distance of this marker); Bowers Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); History in the Making (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Bowers Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Bowers Mansion (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Franktown (approx. 0.9 miles away); Ophir Famous Mill Town (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Winters Ranch (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Washoe City.

Regarding Horses to Horsepower. This former carriage house now houses public restrooms.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Bowers Mansion

Also see . . . Bowers Mansion: The Chronicle of a Curious Nevada Landmark. Through the Roaring Twenties and Prohibition, and even the Great

By Cosmos Mariner, June 21, 2016

3. Horses to Horsepower Marker

(marker is mounted on carriage house door)

Depression, locals found time to spend the day enjoying the fresh air, wide-open spaces, and spring-fed pools at Bowers Mansion. The largest event of the time was the moonlight picnic that occurred each fall. Guests stayed until well after dark, returning home with their acetylene lamps sending faint streams of light upon the dusty roadways. Exhausted children asleep in the back, were dreaming of next summer when they would return to Bowers Mansion. (Submitted on December 30, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 29, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 40 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 29, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on December 30, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.