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Location: Downtown Carson City
Directions: Along Stewart Street, directly across from State Library and Archives
N39° 09.846 W119° 45.857
Location: 1
Visibility: 2
Accessibility: 1
Marker type: Metal
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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 ...
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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.
 In the shadow of the State Library and Archives. If you walk directly across the street and through those glass doors, you'll run right into another marker, pesky #250.
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