by Trenna Sue Hiler

Created on: February 24, 2009   Last Updated: November 16, 2011

Kit Carson was a famous explorer of the west. He is given much credit for the settling and development of Carson City, the town that bears his name.

The Kit Carson Trail is a walking path that winds through Carson City's historic residential home district. The path is clearly mark with a painted blue line and gold medallions along the way. There are more than 60 land marks featured in the 2.5 miles of walkways.

The best way to experience the trail is to stop by the Carson City Visitors Center and pick up a CD or down load the pod cast. This gives the tourist a virtual tour guide to explain and describe the historical sites that are being passed. Tourist may recognize some of the narrators. John Wayne tells about the Krebs-Peterson House located on 500 North Mountain Street. This is the location where "The Shootist" was filmed.

It comes complete with all sorts of sound effects and tidbits of gossip about the owners and the shenanigans that took place in these historic homes. Although the voices actors it adds a bit of interest to the whole Kit Carson Trail.

Hannah Keziah Clapp scored a win for women. In 1875 she won the contract to provide the iron fencing surrounding the Capitol yard. She was a woman ahead of her time. This is mentioned as the tour walks by the capitol where the iron fencing still stands. She was also a teacher and organized the first charter school in the state of Nevada.

June Dickerson tells tourist about the Nevada's Governor's Mansion. She earned the honor of telling the story by being the only child every born in the Mansion. Some say that she and mother haunt the residence.

She tells the story of how the residence came into the hands of the state government. It seems that Mrs.TB Rickey had some disagreements with her husband and when he was out of town she offered the state the property for $10.00. Quite the scuttlebutt was reported.

Orion Clemens lived at 502 North Division Street. His claim to fame was his brother, who may have been able to talk tourists into white washing a fence, Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain.

George Kitzmeyer built and owned the furniture factory. It started with tradition furniture offerings and then the son convinced him to add coffin and mortuary services as part of the business. The famous furniture factory is now the home of the Nevada Commission on Tourism.

Clearly the stories are grand and there is much history to be enjoyed by walking the Kit Caron Trail. It would be considered one of the can't miss sites in Carson City.

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