Hometown Highlight: Carson City, NV

By: Neva Mellow

Photo Credit: Neva Mellow

Home for me is 2,584 miles away from Salem. To put it in perspective, that is roughly a day and a half of straight driving without stopping for gas, food, or for a stretch break. But, if you ever find yourself with a week of free time, I promise you that it’s very important you take a trip out West. Once you see the terrain change, and can spot snow capped mountains through your windshield, you’re close. Eventually, you will hit the capital of Nevada – a city filled with approximately 58,000 people. 

Despite the large population, the city feels quite small. I was born and raised here, in the heart of the Nevada desert. I spent 19 years of my life sleeping under the Milky Way, as I laid on my hammock in the backyard during the warm summer months. There were months I also spent swimming up at Lake Tahoe, sandboarding down Sand Mountain, hiking through the sage up C-hill, and mountain biking the Sierras. In the winters, I’d go snowshoeing around Spooner Summit, snowboarding Mt. Rose, and tobogganing down Davis Creek. 

My hometown is surrounded by the outdoors. Practically every street turns into a trailhead, or runs into a mountain. The city wraps around the surrounding mountains, and offers great opportunities to immerse yourself in the outdoors. But, don’t worry if that’s not your cup of tea, there’s still plenty to see. We host year round Powwows at the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum, and have 24/7 slot machines, blackjack tables, and poker games to keep you entertained.

If you’re into history, in the North part of the city up by where I live, there is a historic V&T railroad. The Virginia and Truckee Railroad once connected Carson City to the rich silver mines of Virginia City. If you listen close enough, you just might hear the train whistle blow through the valley. 

The valley the train runs through goes right past abandoned turquoise, silver, and quartz mines that dot the mountains of Northern Carson. Moving downtown you will find local coffee shops, family owned restaurants, and old brick buildings that are full of character and Western charm. On summer evenings, you’ll pass by live music playing in the plaza, families walking around on the sidewalk, and strangers who stop to talk because everyone here feels like family. 

Despite the excitement downtown, Carson City’s most meaningful tradition actually occurs above the city itself. The night before my high school graduation, my friends and I hiked up to the highest mountain on the outskirts of town and pushed hundreds of boulders around past midnight to write out “25”. (If you look closely at the image below, I’m the only one wearing sunglasses in the dark). These rocks were then spray painted white, continuing a tradition that occurs each year with a portion of the graduating class who chooses to make the challenging hike.

Photo Credit: Waylon Parr

Carson City is a special place where nature and history come together, where the mountains are always in sight, and where life moves at a slow but steady pace. For me, this is home. It is a city where no matter how far I travel, I know that one long drive later, (or potentially one long flight), I’ll be greeted by my mom and dad waiting on the porch steps, ready to help me carry in my bags, and feed me before a hike.

Photo Credit: Neva Mellow