Carson City, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Warm Springs Hotel

Warm Spring Hotel Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew J Ebert

1. Warm Spring Hotel Marker

Inscription. This land was first home to the Washoe people. In 1850, the United States Congress created the Utah Territory, which then included present-day Nevada. In that year, Benjamin Green, John Musser, Abe Curry and Frank Proctor arrived in Carson County to purchase land abandoned by Mormon settlers the year before. They acquired the Eagle Valley Ranch. From sandstone quarried near a natural thermal spring on the property, Curry constructed a large stone hotel. The 1859 silver strike in Gold Canyon quickly brought national attention to the Washoe region. Two years later, on March 2, 1861, the Nevada Territory was established. That summer, Territorial Governor James Nye and Secretary Orion Clemens arrived to organize the new government. According to Orion’s brother, Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), Carson City residents refused to provide a meeting space for the fledgling government. Abe Curry stepped forward and offered his stone hotel just outside the town limits rent free, ensuring the new territorial legislature had a place to meet. Beginning in 1862 the Warm Springs Hotel served as both a meeting place for government business

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and as a facility to hold lawbreakers. In 1864 the Nevada Legislature purchased the hotel and 20 surrounding acres from Curry for $80,000. In May 1867 the original hotel building was destroyed by fire. The site later became the location of the Nevada State Prison, marking an important chapter in the early history of Carson City and the State of Nevada.

(Emblem with crossed tools and date)

Dedicated this day April 25, 2006 (6031)
by the Chapters Snowshoe Thompson 1827
Julia C Bulette 1864
Jesse Lee Reno 1422
of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus

Erected 2026 by E Clampus Vitus, Snowshoe Thompson Chapter 1827, Julia C Bulette Chapter 1864, Jesse Lee Reno Chapter 1422.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 2, 1861.

Location. 39° 9.685′ N, 119° 44.226′ W. Marker is in Carson City, Nevada. It is on Warm Springs Court. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Carson City

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NV 89701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Nevada Viet Nam Memorial (approx. one mile away); Isaac Evan James (approx. 1.1 miles away); Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight (approx. 1.2 miles away); Mills Park (approx. 1.4 miles away); Charles W. Friend House, Observatory, and Weather Station (approx. 1½ miles away); Chinatown (approx. 1½ miles away); Nevada State Children’s Home (approx. 1½ miles away); Blackwell Ponds (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carson City.

Also see . . . The Warm Springs Hotel and Nevada State Prison (State Historic Presevation Office). (Submitted on April 30, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2026, by Matthew J Ebert of Gerlach, NV. This page has been viewed 22 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on April 28, 2026, by Matthew J Ebert of Gerlach, NV. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.