Historical Markers of Carson City
- HM 1 - Empire and Carson River Mills
- HM 25 - Nevada's Capitol
- HM 44 - Carson City
- HM 70 - Bliss Mansion
- HM 71 - Methodist Church of Carson City
- HM 72 - Nevada State Children's Home
- HM 75 - Government Building
- HM 76 - Eagle Valley
- HM 77 - Dat So La Lee
- HM 78 - Orion Clemens Home
- HM 91 - Stewart Indian School
- HM 134 - Trans-Sierran Pioneer Flight
- HM 175 - Stewart-Nye Residence
- HM 179 - First Air Flights in Nevada
- HM 180 - The Warm Springs Hotel
- HM 181 - The Washo Indians
- HM 193 - Historic Flume and Lumber Yard
- HM 194 - Gardner's Ranch
- HM 196 - The U.S. Mint of Carson City
- HM 213 - Lakeview
- HM 235 - Camp Nye
- HM 243 - Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight
- HM 250 - State Printing Building
- HM 252 - Rinckel Mansion
- HM 258 - Weather Observatory
- HM 259 - The Governor's Mansion
Nevada Landmarks Home Page
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*HM 258*
-- Charles W. Friend House, Observatory, and Weather Station --
Location: Downtown Carson City
Directions: Along Stewart Street, directly across from State Library and Archives
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Location: 1
Visibility: 2 Accessibility: 1 Marker type: Metal |
Date Conquered: 6/10/07
Nearest Intersection: Between E. King & Musser Sts.
Quick Description: A unique marker honoring Nevada's first weatherman, astronomer, seismologist, weather station AND observatory.
Signed: No -- Historically, this marker was never signed.
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Full Description:
Exact description as reads...
This is the site of the house and observatory of Nevada's first weatherman, astronomer and seismologist, Charles William Friend. Born in Prussia in 1835, Friend immigrated by way of South America to California during the 1849 Gold Rush. In 1867, he moved from Folsom to Carson City where he set up his own jewelry and optical store.
Friend built Nevada's first observatory located southwest of his house and east of the Nevada State Capitol. Nevada's U.S. Senator William Stewart helped him obtain the use of a six-inch equinoxial mount and other instruments from the federal government.
Charles Friend also established Nevada's first weather service. In 1887, the Nevada Legislature passed authorization for a weather service station in Carson City. Friend became its director and created volunteer weather stations throughout the state. He compiled the data into reports that are still referenced today.
Charles W. Friend died in 1907. Since his death, the Association of Weather Services has recognized him as a pioneer in weather service west of the Rockies.
