I spent an hour or so wandering around the Capitol complex in Carson City. It is a very nice area with gardens, government buildings, and of course the capitol. If in Carson City, worth stopping and seeing it and the grounds. There are monuments nearby such as to the veterans, fallen peace officers, Kit Carson and more.I parked on the street (2 hour parking close to the capitol complex); it was free parking.
We were made very welcome by the security guide. Very pleasant & unexpected extra to our walk round the 'historic' district.
More helpful than usual security guard directed us to 2nd floor of this tiny capitol bldg only used now for the executive branch to see the exhibits about the capitol which are housed in the old Senate chamber. Very wooded grounds; park-like setting. Didn't see a bicentennial bell and no one to ask, and the self-guided brochures "have been out of stock for a while." No murals or much to look at. Well-maintained bldg.
Nevada's Capitol is very quaint. We have been to many capitols before and this one has to have been the smallest. The people were very friendly and the offices were open and very welcoming which did differ from other state capitols. Only the first and second floors are open. The second floor has a tiny museum with a bit of history regarding the state and Capitol building. If you are in or near Carson City, stop in and visit but I wouldn't go far out of the way for it.
This is a nice little capitol building in downtown Carson City. The grounds are nicely kept; the state has offices here and surprisingly little security. It is nice to walk around on both floors and see a little history of Nevada. There is a little museum on the second floor. Sadly you cannot go up into the cupola for a view. I admit that I was hoping for hitching posts and boardwalks all around,but it is a nice quick stop. There is a building across the street with a boardwalk for that Wild West touch though!
As I near the end of my capitol tours, I can say with confidence that this one is pretty different from the bustling, larger ones in busy cities. It's certainly historic and it just looks different from other capitols, especially with its silver dome. We came across a volunteer tour guide who was very enthusiastic about her relatively new home state of Nevada. She was knowledgeable and stayed past her time to leave just chatting with us. Security was also friendlier and more engaging than at most state capitols, even walking over to let me back in after I'd accidentally locked myself out to take photos outside. If you're looking to buy souvenirs, head over to the legislative building - they have a store with very reasonable prices. Yes, it may not be as flashy or impressive as other capitols, but I enjoyed my time here.
The grounds seem to be the nicest part to me. Very historic. Not too much of interest to me beyond the architecture of the building.
Many state Capitol buildings do not allow the public to walk around and just to look inside, but Carson City is an exception! Our family was able to walk around and take photos. We were surprised that security was minimal and we didn't have to go through a metal detector or have the hassle of having our bags sifted through. We had a stroller to contend with so since the elevator was broken not all of us were able to go up stairs to look at the museum, but those that did really enjoyed it.
Nevada is one of those states that has two State capitol buildings-- one new one for the (enlarged) legislature, and the original historic one for the Governor and tourists. Except for the art lining most of the hallways of the new, modern one & viewing the clean, modern House and Senate chambers, you could just skip that, or spend 1/2 hour there and take it in. The old one is small, hidden by trees in the park between the two but, while grandiose, can be seen in another 1/2 hour. The best pictures here are outside.
What a hidden gem! We visited the State Capitol when the legislature was not in session. Carson City is a very small capital, so it was a delight to pull into a parking space adjacent to the capital building at no charge. When we walked in through the main entrance, a state trooper greeted us warmly, gave us an overview of the building, and invited us to walk around. What a pleasant change from the usual frisk and search. Be sure to look at the minerals listed in the ceiling banner and the museum exhibit in the former senate chamber. The architecture has elements of Beaux Arts, Romanesque and Victorian because of the era in which it was built and the building has been beautifully restored. From this North Carolinian to residents of the Silver State - you have a gem.