10 Must-Visit Historic Buildings
Spring/Summer 2025
Become a Silver State expert with a stop at these storied structures.
Despite centuries of fires, busted towns, and urban redevelopment, Nevada is still packed with historic structures. Not only do these buildings stand the test of time, each one also tells a unique part of the state’s story—and all are worth visiting. Note that the structures in this list aren’t necessarily the oldest around, but they are the ones we recommend making a detour for.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort Historic Park
In 1855, 30 Mormon missionaries entered Las Vegas Valley tasked with creating a permanent settlement along the southern route to California. The party settled near Las Vegas Creek—the only free-flowing creek in the desert valley—and built their adobe fort, which featured rowhouses, a post office, and a general store. The effort was abandoned within two years, and the next 150 years saw the rise of a metropolis with the fort’s remains virtually at its center. Today, the reconstructed Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort hides in plain sight in downtown Las Vegas, beckoning visitors to discover the valley’s millennia-long archeology and history.
Stokes Castle
Built in 1897, this three-story granite tower stands as a reminder of Austin’s boomtown days. Railroad magnate Anson Phelps Stokes, a prominent mine developer and banker, originally constructed the “castle” as a summer home for his family, though they rarely used the residence. Today, the structure proudly stands on a hill just outside town that offers visitors a perfect picnic area with an impressive view of the Reese River Valley.
Historic Carson City Mint
In 1863, Congress established a new federal mint in Carson City—the second in the West after San Francisco’s (established in 1854). Back when silver practically streamed out of nearby Virginia City, the silver bullion was carted to Nevada’s capital and transformed into coins, all bearing the “CC” mint mark. In total, the Carson City Mint produced nearly $50 million (face value) in gold and silver coins before ceasing operations in 1893. Today, the building houses a portion of the Nevada State Museum. Be sure to stop in and check out the historic Coin Press No. 1, which still produces commemorative coins and medallions for visitors.
Mizpah Hotel
Conspicuous, storied, and irresistibly elegant, the Mizpah Hotel has been a fixture of Tonopah since its construction in 1905. At that time, the city was the largest in the state and one of the highest-producing silver mining districts in the world. The Mizpah—touted as one of the finest hotels in the state—rode Tonopah’s shaky economic highs and lows, reopening in 1908, 1980, 1996, and—most recently—2011. Today, the renovated and restored hotel offers one of the most comfortable and memorable stays in rural Nevada.
Oats Park Art Center
Discover a vibrant arts scene in small-town Nevada at this historic schoolhouse turned art gallery and performance hall. Constructed in 1914, the elegant school served the community of Fallon until it was damaged by an earthquake in 1954. After a decade-long renovation, the Oats Park Art Center opened as the area’s preeminent cultural center that hosts art shows and diverse performances and concerts in its 350-seat theater. Check out the events-packed calendar, and don’t forget to visit to the Art Bar, which offers specialty cocktails during special events.
Historic Fourth Ward School Museum
Constructed in only four months in 1876, this impressive, four-story schoolhouse preserves the magnificence of Virginia City’s bonanza years. It also features what were—at the time—innovations in public education: indoor flush toilets, drinking fountains, individual desks for each student, and a central heating and ventilation system. After the school closed in 1936, the structure sat empty for nearly 50 years. Today, the old schoolhouse is the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum, and visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour. Be sure to stop at the perfectly preserved classroom, which features period wall maps, furniture, and even a pot-bellied stove.
Belmont Courthouse
On July 4, 1876, the citizens of Belmont celebrated both the nation’s centennial and the grand opening of their brand-new courthouse. At that time, Belmont was a prosperous county seat with a population in the thousands. Within a generation, however, the town would be mostly abandoned. The last trial was held in 1905, and the courthouse stood abandoned for decades. In 1972, Belmont was placed on the National Registry of Historical Places, and today the restored courthouse stands as a surprising monument hidden in the remote mountains of central Nevada. To arrange a tour, contact Friends of the Belmont Courthouse.
Eureka Opera House
Eureka’s historic crown jewel was built in 1880, beginning as a miner’s union hall before serving as one of the West’s top opera houses. In the 20th century, it even served as a movie theater. Today, the two-story building is the town’s convention center and performing arts theater with open hours Tuesday through Saturday. After admiring the main gallery and its High Victorian stage, head downstairs to see more than a century’s worth of signatures adorning the walls left by past performers.
Caliente Railroad Depot
This Mission Revival relic was built in 1923 to serve the Union Pacific Railroad line between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. The depot’s primary function was to resupply coal-powered engines—a technology which became obsolete by the 1940s. Outside of its role as an Amtrak stop from 1979-1997, the depot no longer services any rail line. However, the building has been repurposed as Caliente’s city hall and is packed with train history, memorabilia, and an onsite box car museum.
Downtown Post Office
In 1931, Nevada passed two laws that were found nowhere else in the country: legalized gambling and speedy divorces. As the largest city in the state, Reno quickly became a popular tourist destination that suddenly needed a new post office to support the flood of mail that followed visitors. The result was a beautiful Art Deco-style post office—completed in 1933—that served Reno until 2012. In 2015, the building became The Basement: an independent vendor space filled with charming shops and restaurants. Don’t hesitate to stop in, window shop, and get a taste of Reno history in one of the city’s most impressive venues.