A walk through Carson City’s historic district is always a unique ghostly experience. Let me guide you through some ghostly highlights before you venture out on your ghostly adventure.

Beginning on W. Robinson St. and the corner of Hwy 395/Carson St. you will find the Nevada State Museum formerly the U.S. Mint. I believe there are many spirits in this building but the most notable is a spirit of a man in the “ghost town” section of the museum. Take a few moments to quietly listen and watch, see if he will appear for you.

Just behind the State Museum on the corner of Curry & Robinson you will find a large white building that was once a lovely home. On the side of the house facing Robinson there were once daffodils planted below one of the windows. It has been widely reported that a little girl spirit picks the daffodils and then tries to bring them inside with her when she walks through the wall. Unfortunately, the daffodils are found on the ground outside the window as they cannot go through the wall as she had.

A couple of blocks up on Robinson you will come to the Bliss Bungalow, currently a bed and breakfast. If you walk up to the house quietly, you just might see a woman with dark hair sitting in one of the chairs on the porch. This is a woman who until about 2 years ago was the caretaker of the bungalow. She passed a couple of years ago but loved the home so much she visits it often. Also, I have never walked into the kitchen of this home without being greeted with a kind “Hello” from a woman spirit. If you walk around the corner and look up at the windows, you just may be lucky enough to spot three women from the Victorian era looking out the window. These three women are all related. Two of the sisters used to live in a small home across the street which is now torn down. The third woman is their cousin and she had a home just south a block or two from the bungalow.

As you continue walking up Robinson Street you will come to the Bliss Mansion. This is currently a private residence but definitely one of the most active homes in Carson City. The mansion was built on an Indian burial ground which also became a burial ground for the poor of Carson City. I have met many, many spirits in this home. We estimate at least 35 roam these grounds. I will never forget coming down the stairs and stopping at the landing that looked down at the front door to see the entry filled with men and women from the 1800’s shedding their coats and hats. They had come for one of the Bliss’ many parties.

Bliss Mansion

My friends who once owned the mansion had let me take a visitor through the home. When I came to the door and started to turn the knob to go in I suddenly remembered to call out to the dog and let him know that it was me. We captured an EVP just a second before I called out to the dog after an old woman who told me “Don’t forget the dog.”

The house was empty but as I came to one room and began to open the door I heard “don’t come in here.” I hesitated and then realized no one was in that room. When we reviewed our recordings, sure enough there was a voice of a woman saying “don’t come in here.

The bedroom that overlooks a very large tree we met a little girl who wanted us to play with her. Our recorders caught her asking us to “swing.”   Listen closely and you will hear her soft voice in the background. I have often wondered if that large tree once had a swing.

The Bender home which is across the street from the Bliss Mansion has a lovely ghost that likes to bake. The owners have enjoyed the delicious smells coming from the kitchen for years.

You will now turn the corner and head down Mountain Street. You will come to the Krebs-Peterson House which was used in John Wayne’s last movie “The Shootest.” As you stop in front of the home, look up at the second floor windows. This is a small sitting room and sometimes you can catch someone looking out those windows down at you. This home has a number of spirits but I have always found one in this room looking out watching the world go by.

Walk down about one block and you will find a large old tree, it even looks haunted! Usually when we do our October Ghost Walk we have a witch hiding behind this tree. Have one of your friends stand next to it and take their picture. Don’t be surprised if you find beams of light across their face or orbs. This tree rarely disappoints and always worth a photo opportunity.

Now go back about a block and turn down Spear Street and head back towards Carson Street. When you reach the corner of Division and Spear you will be in front of Orion Clemens home (he was Mark Twain’s brother) which is now a law firm’s office. Next to the home you will see a small bungalow attached. This was once the servant’s quarters. This small building has a young woman spirit who might have been a maid for the Clemens at one time. She will occasionally move things. But the most recent activity at this home was a few months ago. I was sitting in the maid’s quarters and kept catching something out of the corner of my eye. I would see shadows dart by. My friend who has an office there asked me if I was seeing them too. Well, before I left her office we both saw a shadow man walk behind a large tree along the sidewalk and never come out the other side. I left my friend mumbling to herself in amazement because she had never experienced seeing a true spirit. I always love to witness someone’s first experience!

If you are interested in learning more about the Carson City resident ghosts, you will have an opportunity on August 20th on a 90 minute walking tour led by Madame Curry. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 on the day of the tour. You will meet Madame Curry on the corner of Curry & W. Third just behind Firkin Fox restaurant at 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau gift store at 1900 S. Carson St. (located on the Nevada Railroad Museum property). (775) 687-7410 or 1-Nevada-1.

Written-by Janet Jones a local psychic medium who has been exploring the spirits of Carson City for more than 20 years.