9 Most Charming Town Squares In Nevada
Many Nevada towns feature vestiges of the Old West and are fun spots to hear the nostalgic whisper of yesteryears, the image that is today prominent in Cowboy movies and stories. You will also find several ghost towns, relics of mining booms that went bust, where weather-beaten saloons today stand as timeless reminders of Nevada’s rugged frontier past. Some of these towns are not just interesting time capsules. They feature some of the most charming town squares in the state—Discover Nevada's nine most lovely town squares, from Virginia City to Minden.
Virginia City
If you are visiting Nevada and don't know where to start, always prioritize Virginia City. The town looks like a living history and was recently named by USA Today in its 10 Charming Main Streets Across the US That Will Steal Your Heart. Virginia City is built on the side of a mountain and often comes with the feeling of walking on the side of a roof. Historic C Street, with its unpretentious two-story buildings, is a time capsule of a Western boomtown from the 1870s.
Even if you are not religious, you will be blown away by the beauty of the historic Saint Mary In the Mountains Church, with its architecture and attractive stained glass windows. Check out the museum on the lower floor, which is free. Meanwhile, Washoe Club Museum & Saloon is a storied saloon from 1862. It also has a history museum featuring exhibits and ghost tours. Piper's Opera House, listed by the League of Historic Theaters, is a lovely place to visit, even if you will not chance upon a theatrical performance or a mood-lifting concert.
Boulder City
The history of Boulder City dovetails with one of the most inspiring engineering feats in the modern world: the construction of the Hoover Dam. Every detail of Boulder City—from its city grid to its recreation activities—was planned and carefully executed. The city, which was briefly called Ragtown, would be a model 20th-century community and would showcase everything that a new American town could be. Although today the city is well developed, it exudes a timeless charm and, in a sense, still feels like small-town America. The town's inner core, now the Boulder City Historic District, was placed on the National Historic Register in 1983. It is one of Nevada’s most walkable cities and features wonderfully preserved buildings, some of which date back to the city’s founding.
At the Hoover Dam Museum, you will see what it took to build the dam that holds the largest man-made lake in the United States. Check out the Nevada State Railroad Museum as well, and discover the railroad's role in the construction of the dam. Alternatively, Nature Discovery Trail and Rock Garden features paved trails with lots of fun sculptures, and is always a great place for a walk or a biking session. The trick is to start with a hearty meal at Dam Roast House & Browder Bookstore, which serves smooth and perfectly balanced Affogato and other delicious offerings in a cozy and relaxed atmosphere.
Genoa
If you are in the Lake Tahoe area, you should visit Genoa, which is celebrated as the original site of a Mormon settlement in Nevada. You can retrace this fascinating history at the Mormon Station State Historic Park, home to a reconstructed version of the original 1851 trading post and a well-curated museum with original pioneer-era artifacts. Genoa is the oldest permanent settlement in Nevada; therefore, expect lots of historic charm and a feel that leans towards the nostalgic. The Genoa Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is dotted with beautiful Victorian buildings and several other unique establishments, including the oldest saloon in the Silver State.
Genoa Bar and Saloon, which opened in 1853, has served countless celebrities and politicians in its long, checkered career. You will want to check out the Genoa Courthouse Museum, where you will learn fascinating stories about Snowshoe Thompson, including how he melted snow while delivering mail. After this, spend some quiet minutes at the Genoa Town Park, a peaceful pocket park just off Genoa's Main Street.
Elko
If you can appreciate the austere beauty of vast, sandy plateaus framed by majestic red mountains, Elko is the one Nevada town you will want to visit. Not just that. Elko’s downtown is stunningly beautiful, especially with all its colourful, eye-catching murals, most of which were painted in a single weekend by 43 artists from every nook of the globe. A significant stomping ground for Basque culture, tongue-tingling delights abound at places like Toki Ona, where you will feel like you have wandered into an age-old Basque boarding house. Here, every plate is prepared with care that speaks to tradition.
Before exploring the glacier-carved sliver of paradise that is Lamoille Canyon, check out the Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum on Commercial Street, a cool place to admire all kinds of cowboy gear and art. After this, cross the street to the Western Folklife Center, headquarters of the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. It displays contemporary cowboy craftsmanship, ranch life, and American Indian art—the conclusion? Elko has an artistic soul hardly experienced anywhere else.
Austin
Austin is an old mining town with a historic Main Street in the middle of Nevada. Austin should be on your bucket list if you enjoy wandering through downtown areas with beautiful old buildings. It is on Highway 50, dubbed the Loneliest Highway in America, and features elements of isolation that can be both thrilling and unnerving. Austin is tiny but gorgeous, even when it snows. Keep in mind that when it is clear, you can see forever. Attractions include the three-story Stokes Castle, a nod to the unimaginable silver wealth surrounding Austin’s boom days. It was built in 1897. Visitors will also want to go to the Gridley Store, which opened in 1863 and is associated with one of Nevada's most interesting Civil War-era episodes, with its roots in a lost bet. If hunger pangs begin to set in, Grandma’s is conveniently located on Main Street and serves delicious pork chops, pizzas, and a yummy range of healthy salads.
Ely
Ely is a neat little town with incredible mountains and hills and a well-preserved downtown. Before taking a drive to the photo-worthy Cave Lake, because you will need to, you will be mesmerized by a charming core with beautiful outdoor murals, historic hotels ( such as the iconic Hotel Nevada & Gambling Hall), and a dining scene that is surprisingly varied, especially for a town of Ely's size. The Nevada Northern Railway Museum, which offers tours of old-school rail routes aboard classic steam locomotives, is one of Ely's most well-known attractions. You will want to spend some time at the machine shop and engine house, especially to admire numerous rare antique train engines and cars. As for food, Roberto's Mexican Food is a hidden gem that serves outrageously delicious enchiladas, burritos, and several other kindred dishes.
Caliente
Once a dusty rail town, Caliente, Spanish for “hot,” is today a peaceful and photogenic spot with a historic downtown and lots of captivating sights and attractions. You will enjoy a charming, small-town atmosphere, where cottonwood trees offer rustic charm and provide some welcome shade to smitten visitors and warm-hearted residents. The Union Pacific Depot, built in the years before the Great Depression, is today home to government offices, a library, and an art gallery. Kershaw-Ryan State Park, just a hair out of town, is a tranquil, garden-like park in a protected canyon with a spring-fed wading pool and koi fish ponds. As for a quick caffeine fix, the Barrow Brew Co. may not look like much at first glance, but it delivers big on flavor and experience. Keep in mind that Rainbow Canyon, located a few minutes south of Caliente, has a name that fits its multi-colored appearance.
Tonopah
Tonopah is a historic mining town with iconic landmarks, including the Mizpah Hotel, one of the most historic properties in the West. The prestigious, five-story hotel was built in 1907, and, together with the nearby Belvada Hotel, briefly shared the bragging rights to the title of the Tallest Building in Nevada. Today, Tonopah’s downtown retains its early 20th-century character and boasts flashes of its mining boom years, especially at places like the Tonopah Historic Mining Park, a cool place to explore and see how mining was done back in the day.
Aside from intriguing details on American mining history, this park is up on a hill, meaning you also get panoramic views of Tonopah and the surrounding areas. At the Central Nevada Museum, you will learn what few people know about: what was once the largest WWII training center in the United States. After these unforgettable experiences, nab a chair at Hometown Pizza. Its on-site salad bar features a great selection of decadent options, while its pizzas are hot, crispy, and tantalizingly fresh.
Yerington
With its quaint 1930s-era post office, the feeling of being far from the hub-bub of bigger communities, and a beautiful brick Beaux Arts building surrounded by a lush park, Yerington deservedly lays claim to Nevada’s most all-American town title. The old Yerington Post Office, which is surprisingly still in use, is considered one of the finest examples of New Deal artwork. It features a cool, eye-catching mural known as “Homestead on the Plain,” which was painted in the 1940s by Adolph Gottlieb, a prominent American painter and member of the first generation of Abstract Expressionists.
El Alteno is a Mexican restaurant on Main Street that whips up mouth-watering enchiladas, tostadas, and taco salads in a warm and cozy atmosphere. If looking to kill a few hours, Lyon County Museum is an underrated gem filled with interesting exhibits on local history, including the history of Anaconda Mine and the Copper Belt Rail Road. And for something different, Walker River State Recreation Area, just a hair out of town, is a nice, peaceful campground with power, water, and shaded porticos along with a lovely river for rafting or kayaking.
There is the austere beauty of a craggy mountaintop, the enchanting allure of a surreal desertscape, and jaw-dropping havens of striated limestone and sandstone. There is also the charm of a small but beautiful town square, punctuated with cowboy-era storefronts, eye-catching murals, and marble flower planters. Fortunately, Nevada offers the best of both worlds. Its most charming town squares, whether Elko or Ely, are some of the most gifted storytellers.
