Old Post Office, Carson City

Library of Congress

For decades this imposing red brick structure at the heart of downtown Carson City was the U.S. Post Office for town. It also held a variety of federal courthouses and other federal offices. In 1972 the feds moved out and it was given over to the state, who used it as the State Library until the early 1990s. Now it is home to the Nevada Commission on Tourism.

Peeking out the left side of the building is Southern Pacific Locomotive No. 8. This narrow gauge engine worked on the Southern Pacific branch (former Carson and Colorado) in the Owens Valley, California, travelling between Laws and Keeler. After the engine was retired it was donated to the State of Nevada. It was stored in front of a house on the west side of Carson for nine years (Roy Boswell's Eagle Territory Museum at 310 Mountain St.), and then in 1964 was brought downtown for the Nevada Centennial celebration. It remained here until 1975 when it was moved to downtown Sparks. It is still there today.

Date Uploaded: June 18, 2007

Permanent Link: http://wnhpc.com/details/habs104081pu

Source: Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)

Source URL: https://www.loc.gov/item/nv0031/

Source Caption: Historic American Buildings Survey Aaron A. Gallup, Photographer, December, 1972 GENERAL VIEW, FROM SOUTHWEST - U. S. Post Office, North Carson Street, Carson City, Carson City, NV Photos from Survey HABS NV-13-8

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