This weekend is Nevada Day weekend, the 161st anniversary of Nevada’s statehood. Friday October 31st was the actual anniversary, and the Nevada Day Parade was yesterday, November 1st. Let’s take a look at some parade photos from past years, and show this year’s parade from the same vantage point. It’s interesting to see the floats, but what I also like about these parade photos is that people accidentally capture the buildings in the background too, so parade photos are a great record of Carson Street buildings. Some of these buildings almost never show up outside parade photos, so I’m thankful for these photographers.

This photo is from the first Admission Day parade in 1938. A man on a penny-farthing bicycle tootles around in front of the Ormsby County Courthouse. The building is still there, though it is not a courthouse anymore. A group of VW buses was passing by this year.

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The 1965 parade passes in front of the old Post Office, now the Paul Laxalt building. The Nugget was a lot smaller then, it only took up a small portion of the block. On the left corner was the Kit Carson Club casino. This later became the Horseshoe Club, and now it is Eve’s Eatery.

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In the 1939 parade, some folks in horse-drawn carriages pass in front of the Bullion and Exchange Bank. That bank has since been torn down. This year BMX bikers do tricks in the same spot, in front of City Hall which now sits on that site.

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Across the street from the Bullion and Exchange Bank was Kitzmeyer’s Drugs, Sprouse Rietz, and the Central Bar. Girl Scout Troop 3 is marching by proudly. Now this block contains So Juicy and the Adams Hub, with some old military equipment passing by.

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A float with a statue of Abraham Lincoln is pulled in front of Bair’s Jewelry store, with the Arlington Hotel in the background. The Arlington Hotel was torn down in the 1960s, and the building on the corner has been Cactus Jack’s casino nearly as long.

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Between 2nd and 3rd streets are Mercury Cleaners, a different location for the Central Bar, Chas. Marriage Insurance, and Austin’s Market. The buildings are all still there, but with all different tenants. Now with the Battle Born IMRG passing by in the parade.

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The 1964 parade was a big deal. It was the 100th anniversary of Nevada’s statehood. Lorne Green from the Bonanza TV show was the celebrity guest for this parade, along with his co-stars from the show. Here he waves his hat howdy in front of Dick’s Saloon, at the corner of Carson and Ann streets. Dick’s Saloon was moved to Genoa in 1976, and the site is now parking for the Hardman House hotel.

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Next door to Dick’s Saloon was Berger’s Bowling Alley. This was Carson City’s big bowling alley until Carson Lanes was built at the south end of town. It was replaced by the Hardman House hotel, and “Mrs Centennial Nevada” Sylvia Corthell in 1964 was replaced by the Dayton Dustdevils this year.

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This cowboy moseys on past the Dutch Mill restaurant at the corner of Carson and William streets in the 1950s. The Dutch Mill was replaced by a larger building, which is now occupied by Heidi’s Restaurant. The sign on the corner still is shaped like a windmill, a reference back to the original building.