The Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center is located in the former Douglas County High School building, designed by famed architect Frederic J. DeLongchamps.
In 1988, the school board leased the building to the Carson Valley Historical Society. The society renovated the structure to become a museum of Douglas County history and a cultural center to benefit and be enjoyed by visitors and residents of Douglas County and the surrounding area.
Grants were received from Douglas County and the State of Nevada as well as private donations. An immense outpouring of volunteer help from individuals,businesses, and organizations brought about the successful restoration of the building and the grand opening of the Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center on August 19, 1995.
The Douglas County Historical Society seeks to enrich lives by preserving local history and making it accessible to our communities and visitors.
The Douglas County Historical Society was established in 1961.
Operating funds are raised through membership dues, fundraisers, cash donations, memorials, room rentals, grants, admissions and fees for programs and services. An additional 30% of operating resources come from donated goods and services and 86% from volunteer services.
DCHS is a private, non-profit corporation. The Society does not receive any funds from the State of Nevada and is not a branch of county government. Douglas County museums depend on private funds for direct support.
The Douglas County Historical Society is dedicated to sharing local history by collecting, preserving and exhibiting items of historic significance. We also provide educational programs which relate to the history of Douglas County and Nevada.
The Douglas County Historical Society and its two Museums are a 501-C (3) charity.
Our main gallery has exhibits on the "Trail to the Promised Land", mustangs, statehood, mining, logging, the Basque Community and the Washo Tribe. Other rooms upstairs feature an animal exhibit, women in history room, the Ferris Wheel, a bookstore and research library. Downstairs is a replica of Main Street Gardnerville with exhibits of a mercantile, restaurant, Record Courier Newspaper office, barber shop, dry good store and pharmacy. We have an agriculture room and telephone room, doctor's office exhibit with information on Dr. Eliza Cook. This is not a complete list.
We have a research library available to the public with much information on local people, the Douglas High School, Snowshoe Thompson, Washo Tribe, history of the Historical Society and history of Douglas County and Nevada.
We have a new educational director and hope to have more to offer in educational programs soon. We have monthly lectures that are very popular. The first Saturday of every month is Student/Senior Day, a free admission day encouraging adults to bring children to the museum. We try to offer something special on these days. We have a Young Chautauqua program that runs from January thru June each year. All Douglas County School children are admitted free for tours of both museums.
Auditoriums
Lecture Halls
Performance Areas
We are a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 charity. We are governed by an elected board of trustees and officers. We have two paid employees and approx. 100 volunteers who operate our two museums.
Access: General Public, Students, Scholars
Appointment required: False
We have a bookstore.
We have a meeting room available for rent.
We rent the Courthouse Museum in Genoa for weddings.
We will also rent our front lawn area our the entire Carson Valley Museum for special events.
Gift Shop
Event Rental
Group Tours