Gardnerville in Douglas County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Gardnerville

Photographed by Melissa H Spease, September 12, 2025

1. Gardnerville Marker

Inscription.
Early Gardnerville served the farming community, and teamsters hauling local produce to booming Bodie. The first buildings were a blacksmith shop, a saloon, and the Gardnerville hotel. The latter was moved by Lawrence Gilman in 1879 from the emigrant trail between Genoa and Walley's Hot Springs, where it was known as Kent House, to this site, the homestead of John M. Gardner.

Just as Genoa was the center for British (largely Mormon) settlers after 1851, so Gardnerville, after 1879, became the center for 1870 Danish immigrants. They founded the Valhall society in 1885 and met in Valhalla Hall one block south.

Starting in 1898, Spanish and French Basque shepherds tended some 13,000 sheep in Carson Valley increasing to 25,000 by 1925, when the Basques began acquiring their own sheep and land. After 1918 several Basques in Gardnerville opened inns which flourished during the prohibition years.

Erected by Nevada State Parks System, Carson Valley Historical Society. (Marker Number 129.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Immigration • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.

Location. 38° 56.448′ N, 119° 44.931′ W. Marker is in Gardnerville

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, Nevada, in Douglas County. It is on U.S. Highway 395 North, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1426 U.S Hwy 395 N, Gardnerville NV 89410, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Sierra Nevada,

in the Lake Tahoe Basin,

and in Greater Reno Area.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: J & T Basque Restaurant Building (a few steps from this marker); Adaven Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The French Hotel and Bar (within shouting distance of this marker); Arendt Jensen Merchandise (within shouting distance of this marker); Record Courier Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sharkey's Nugget (about 300 feet away); Farmer’s Telephone Company (about 300 feet away); Gardnerville Branch Jail (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gardnerville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. East Fork Hotel Building (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Melissa H Spease, September 10, 2025

2. Gardnerville Marker

Street view of marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2025, by Melissa H Spease of Las Vegas, Nevada. This page has been viewed 89 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 19, 2025, by Melissa H Spease of Las Vegas, Nevada. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.