The Wild West Trading Post That Became the Birthplace of Nevada’s First Town in 1851

Genoa, Nevada

A saloon that never closed, old Mormon trading routes, and the birth of Nevada itself all trace back to one tiny town. Genoa might be small, but it packed enough stories in its 170 years to fill a history book. Here’s the tale of the settlement that started the Silver State.

Colonel Reese Arrived With 13 Wagons In 1851

Genoa earned its place in history as Nevada’s first permanent settlement when Colonel John Reese and his party arrived with 13 fully loaded wagons.

Reese demonstrated shrewd business acumen, purchasing the site for just $15-20 from Mr. Moore, then from Captain Jim of the Washoe Tribe.

After securing the land, Reese fenced and plowed 30 acres for seed and built a log store-hotel combination that attracted emigrants willing to pay premium prices.

Orson Hyde Renamed The Settlement In 1855

The name changed when Mormon leader Orson Hyde renamed the settlement Genoa after Christopher Columbus’s Italian birthplace.

Locals pronounced it “juh-NO-ah” rather than the Italian “JEN-o-wah,” creating a distinctive regional pronunciation that continues today.

Hyde acted as both the community’s spiritual leader and its first probate judge, holding court in the loft of Reese’s trading post.

Mormon Settlers Returned To Utah During 1857 War

A significant population shift occurred when Brigham Young called the original Mormon settlers back to Utah due to the Utah War.

While many faithful departed, several chose to remain, including John Reese who initially stayed to protect his extensive business interests.

Reese returned to Salt Lake City in 1859. By then, the population had diversified with many nationalities, including Danish, Italian, Welsh, and Irish pioneers.

Mormon Trading Post

The settlement was initially called Mormon Station because most men in Reese’s party practiced the Mormon faith.

Their permanent trading post was a major upgrade from the previous version made by Abner Blackburn and Hampton Beatie.

The 1851 structure functioned as a complete commercial center with a trading post, hotel, and blacksmith shop for repairing wagons.

Travelers paid dearly for supplies before crossing over, $2 per pound for sugar, flour, and bacon, equivalent to about $70 today.

Douglas County Courthouse

Following the creation of Nevada’s nine original territorial counties in 1861, Genoa became the first county seat of Douglas County.

Construction of a handsome brick courthouse followed in 1865. T.J. Furbee of the Sierra Mining Company lent his expertise as the architect.

The building materials came from nearby sources, with brick kilned at Adams Brothers Brick yard about 1.5 miles north on Jack’s Valley Road.

Nevada’s Oldest Bar Survived As Soda Fountain

Genoa boasts Nevada’s oldest bar, established in 1853. Al Livingston constructed the current building in 1863, naming it Livingston’s Exchange.

In 1884, Frank Fettic purchased the place and renamed it Fettic’s Exchange, operating a “Gentleman’s Saloon” with strict rules against rowdiness.

During Prohibition, the bar disguised itself as a soda fountain, serving notable patrons including Mark Twain and President Theodore Roosevelt.

Territorial Enterprise Newspaper Founded Before Statehood

Media arrived early in Genoa’s history when Nevada Territory’s first newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise, was founded in 1858.

The paper moved twice locally before relocating to Carson City in 1859 and then to Virginia City in 1860 after the Comstock Lode silver boom.

Bee’s “Grapevine Line” strung wires between trees from Genoa to Placerville, later becoming part of the transcontinental telegraph network.

Danish Settlers Drained Swamps For Cattle Ranching

Early Danish and German settlers recognized the Carson Valley’s untapped potential and systematically drained swampy areas to create productive ranchland.

These pioneers built barns with blacksmith shops, making essential farm tools like plows, seeders, and mowers, including orchards, gardens, and pastures.

Eliza Mott Taught Nevada’s First Students In Her Kitchen

Educational history began in 1854 when Eliza Ann Middaugh Mott opened her kitchen as a classroom, becoming Nevada’s first teacher.

As Carson Valley’s first female settler, Mott played a key role in advancing early education in the territory, offering educational support.

Her daughter, Louisa Beatrice Mott, holds the distinction of being the first “native daughter” born in the settlement.

Pony Express Riders Changed Horses At Van Sickle

Transportation networks expanded when Genoa became a crucial stop along the famous Pony Express route in 1860.

The 1857 station sits just two miles south, serving as an official changing point where riders would swap their exhausted horses.

This spot was once on “The Jackass Express” mule route, which ran monthly between Sacramento and Salt Lake City with mail and supplies.

Norwegian Mailman Carried 100-Pound Bags Through Snow

Winter communication depended on John A. Thompson, who began his legendary mail delivery service in January 1856.

Using homemade 10-foot skis, Thompson carried 50-100 pound mail bags across the Sierra Nevada through snowdrifts reaching 50 feet deep.

He completed the 90-mile trek from Placerville to Genoa in three days, surviving on crackers and dried beef.

Bed Bug Sulfur Treatment Started Town Fire In 1910

Disaster struck Genoa on June 28, 1910, when fire destroyed two blocks of the business district and the original Mormon Station trading post.

The fire started when an inmate at the County Alms House tried to get rid of bed bugs by burning sulfur under his mattress.

Physical evidence of the catastrophic fire remains preserved today, including a nickel fused to brass during the intense heat.

Read More From This Brand:

• The National Atomic Testing Museum
• Wild West Saloon, Virginia City
• Seven Magic Mountains, Nevada