Historic Carson City Mint and Nevada museum

Nevada State Museum, Carson City

About 1.3 miles straight-line north in downtown Carson City

Connect the railroad museum's Comstock and Virginia & Truckee story to the silver, coins, mining and communities interpreted inside Carson City's former U.S. Mint.

The place

About Nevada State Museum, Carson City

Nevada State Museum occupies the former United States Branch Mint at 600 North Carson Street. The mint struck coins from 1870 to 1893, including 57 silver issues with the CC mint mark, and the museum now presents Coin Press No. 1 and a complete set of Carson City Morgan dollars.

The museum reaches well beyond numismatics. Permanent galleries cover Nevada geology, a walk-through Devonian sea, the state's natural history, an underground-mine exhibit and a broad timeline of Nevada communities. Under One Sky and the basket gallery present Great Basin Native cultures and contemporary work with Native perspectives rather than reducing the story to frontier settlement.

Judge Clark J. Guild organized the museum after seeing the former mint offered for sale. Nevada purchased the building from the federal government, and the museum opened on Nevada Day in 1941. That building history makes the place itself an artifact connecting federal minting, mining wealth and Nevada public history.

The dedicated visitor page currently lists Tuesday-Sunday hours, adult admission, free youth admission, accessible parking, elevator, wheelchair, Braille signage and audio wands. An umbrella Nevada Museums page still says Wednesday-Sunday, so the venue-specific current page controls and visitors should recheck it before travel.

What stands out

Stand inside the former mint

Read the building as industrial history while seeing Coin Press No. 1 and Carson City coinage where federal minting once occurred.

Follow ore into money

Connect the railroad's Comstock story to mining, bullion, the CC mark and the economic history carried into Carson City.

Walk through Nevada environments

Move from ancient geology and a Devonian sea to natural history, mining and the reconstructed ghost-town and mine galleries.

Center living Native perspectives

Use Under One Sky and current basketry interpretation for Great Basin histories and creative traditions in Native voices.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City trip

At about 1.3 straight-line miles north of the railroad museum, this is the closest strong independent history stop. Pair it after the train to follow Comstock ore and regional development into CC coinage, state history and the lives represented beyond railroad equipment.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • Current hoursTuesday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; closed Monday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day
  • Admission$10 adults; children 17 and under and museum members free
  • Visitor entranceEnter through the glass Dema Guinn Concourse at the downtown museum complex
  • ParkingAccess parking from Curry Street; accessible spaces are on property and in the free public lot west of Curry Street; street spaces have a two-hour limit
  • AccessibilityThe official visitor page lists wheelchair access, elevator, Braille signage and audio wands
  • Coin PressThe current visitor page lists Saturday demonstrations from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; recheck before planning around a demonstration
  • Core exhibitsHistoric mint and CC coinage, Nevada history, underground mine, geology, natural history and Native cultural galleries
  • Hours conflictThe venue-specific page says Tuesday-Sunday while an umbrella state page says Wednesday-Sunday; use the venue-specific page or call

Continue with Native-led history

Add Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum

Visit an alumni-centered cultural center and campus trail interpreting boarding-school history, resilience and living Great Basin cultures.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

When is Nevada State Museum open?

The dedicated current visitor page lists Tuesday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed Monday and three named holidays.

How much is admission?

$10 for adults; children 17 and under and museum members are free.

Is this the original Carson City Mint?

Yes. The museum occupies the former United States Branch Mint, which struck coins from 1870 to 1893.

When does Coin Press No. 1 operate?

The current visitor page lists Saturday demonstrations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Recheck before making the demonstration the reason for your trip.

What accessibility features are published?

The museum lists wheelchair access, elevator, Braille signage, audio wands and accessible parking areas. Call for any route or accommodation detail not covered there.

Where should I park?

Parking is accessed from Curry Street, with property spaces and a free public lot west of Curry Street. Street parking is limited to two hours.

Why do some pages show different open days?

An umbrella Nevada Museums page still says Wednesday-Sunday, while the dedicated current museum page says Tuesday-Sunday. This guide uses the more specific venue page and recommends rechecking it.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-15. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.