The Empire and the Carson River Mills is Nevada Start Historic Monument number one, located near Carson City, Nevada. Following the discovery of the Comstock Lode, and the volume of silver ore produce the the mine, the region enjoy an influx and captial and people to work the mine. Part of the task at hand is the building of mills to process the ore.
Nevada State Historical Markers identify significant places of interest in Nevada’s history. The Nevada State Legislature started the program in 1967 to bring the state’s heritage to the public’s attention with on-site markers. These roadside markers bring attention to the places, people, and events that make up Nevada’s heritage. They are as diverse as the counties they are located within and range from the typical mining boom and bust town to the largest and most accessible petroglyph sites in Northern Nevada Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost or damaged.
Nevada State Historic Marker Text
When the Comstock Lode was discovered in 1859, the problem of reducing the ore from the fabulously rich Virginia City mines had to be solved. Mills were built in Gold Canyon and Six Mile Canyon, in Washoe Valley, at Dayton, and on the Carson River which offered the most abundant source of water to operate the mills.
On the east shore of the river near the town of Empire the first small mill, built in 1860, was later enlarged to become the Mexican. The site of this mill lies to the southwest. Other large mills were then constructed farther downstream, spurring the growth of the town of Empire. Ore was hauled to the mills at first by wagon and later by the famous Virginia and Truckee Railroad built in 1869. Fortunes in gold and silver were produced in over 40 years of operation by the Carson River mills including the Mexican, Yellow Jacket, Brunswick, Merrimac, Vivian, and Santiago. Traces of Empire and its mills can still be seen today.
CENTENNIAL MARKER No. 1
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
Empire and the Carson River Mills Marker Summary
| Name | Empire and the Carson River Mills |
| Location | Carson City, Nevada |
| Latitude, Longitude | 39.1873, -119.7063 |
| Nevada State Historic Marker | 1 |