Carson City's Founder Returns to His 1871 Home
406 N Nevada St, Carson City, NV 89701
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Not a public museum; view from exterior. Carson City's annual Ghost Walk includes the Curry House on its route. Check visitcarsoncity.com for Ghost Walk dates.
Access
Limited Access
Sidewalk exterior viewing; private property
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1871 · Nevada State History · Carson City Founding · National Register of Historic Places · Nevada Mint History
Abraham Curry arrived in Nevada Territory in 1858 with a vision for a capital city. He purchased land in Eagle Valley, surveyed the townsite, and reserved parcels for a plaza, a capitol building, and a prison — all before Nevada was even a state. His foresight in that layout would shape the physical form of Carson City for the following century and a half.
Curry's contributions extended beyond real estate. He helped recruit Nevada into statehood during the Civil War, a political maneuver that required significant persuasion. He supervised construction of the Nevada State Prison and served as its first warden. He oversaw construction of the United States Branch Mint in Carson City, which operated from 1870 to 1893 and produced some of the most collected American coins of the period.
In 1871, Curry built his private home at the northwest corner of Telegraph and Nevada Streets — a one-story masonry structure that reflected the modest character he maintained despite his significant influence. He had only two years to live in it. Abraham Curry died in 1873, at an age estimated to be in his late 50s.
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Carson City's annual Ghost Walk, held the weekend before Halloween and Nevada Day, has incorporated the Curry House into its programming, including a reenactment of Curry's funeral procession.
Sources
Abraham Curry's apparition is described as unusually solid for a reported ghost — substantial enough that observers have identified it as resembling the historical figure from photographs. The accounts place him moving through the rooms of his 1871 home with evident purpose, as though looking for people who are not there. The specific attribution — searching for his wife Mary and possibly his daughter — gives the accounts a domestic quality consistent with the circumstances of a man who had only two years to occupy the home he built before his death.
Curry's presence is not confined to the house. Accounts from the former Nevada State Mint building — the institution he helped establish and that opened in 1870 — also describe his presence. The Mint was a source of genuine professional pride for Curry; he had worked to bring it to Carson City and had seen it begin operation before he died.
Carson City's Ghost Walk, an annual public event, has incorporated both the Curry House and aspects of his history into its programming. A reenactment of Curry's funeral procession has been staged during the event. The city has engaged thoughtfully with its paranormal tourism potential, and the Curry House is among its more historically substantial entries.
Notable Entities
The Abraham Curry House is a private one-story masonry residence on the northwest corner of Telegraph and Nevada Streets in Carson City. The house is included in Carson City's annual Ghost Walk, held the weekend before Halloween — the most accessible way to hear the site's history in context. View the exterior from the sidewalk; do not approach the private residence.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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