Gardner's Ranch

"It's outstanding that the SHPO managed to commemorate Gardner and his ranch with an historic marker. There wasn't given much thought to its accessibllity though. In this case, this one wins for 2nd place effort." -- June 2007

At the corner of Carson and Stewart Sts. -- Carson City

Carson City
39.153280, -119.767160

Original Date Visited: 6/6/07
Revisited: 11/18/21
Signed: No

Notes: You'll find two severely faded signs on both sides of Carson Street. The northbound sign in particular deserves a special mention because it was placed south of the intersection with Fairview Drive. This means if you're not paying attention you might be prompted to turn right onto Fairview rather than continuing straight on Carson Street.

In terms of conquering, this one offers very few options in the way of parking because of its weird placement. The best (and probably safest) option might be the U.S. Forest Office directly behind the marker. Also, if you're safe about it you can park here and walk across the roundabout for an easy two-for-one grab with Marker 193!

Street View

Here's what you'll see!

Marker 194 oversees the exact location of the 19th-century lumber yards Morning light at Marker 194 The immensity of the Carson City lumberyards, 1870s

Exact Description:
On this site in the period from 1870 until 1918 stood the ornate two-story home of Matthew Culbertson Gardner, rancher and lumberman. The residence was headquarters for Gardner's 300 acre ranch in the meadows to the southwest.

Here was located, 1870-1898, the Carson-Tahoe Lumber and Fluming Company's large lumberyard. During the 1870's and 1880's, Gardner logged south of Lake Tahoe for the company and built the only standard gauge logging railroad in the Tahoe basin. He maintained his home here.

Gardner died in 1908 and his residence was destroyed by a fire August 20, 1918. Many of the old trees on the ground once shaded the grounds of the Gardner family.

COVERED IN MY US 50 ROAD TRIP

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Related Links & Markers:

- 193 - Historic Flume & Lumber Yard - 225 - Spooner Area ... Lumberyards - Then and Now (Around Carson) Western Nevada Historic Photo Collection

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