Bowers Mansion Museum

The Historic Bowers Mansion Museum is located

within Bowers Mansion Regional Park and next to Bowers Mansion Pool.

Bowers Mansion Museum: (775) 849-0201

Park Ranger Office: (775) 849-1825

Bowers Pool: (775) 849-0644

image of a large white building (Bower's Mansion) surrounded by greenery

Tour back in time to Nevada's heyday and see how Comstock millionaires Eilley and Sandy Bowers lived the posh life in Washoe Valley. Picnic, swim and play on the grounds as every generation of visitors has done since the Victorian era.

2025 Tour Information

Tour Dates

Saturday & Sunday - May 17 to October 26

Friday - June 20 to August 8

Holidays

Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Nevada Day (October 31)

Tour Times

11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00

Tours begin at the top of the hour and take 30 to 45 minutes.

Admission

Adults (ages 18-61) - $10
Seniors (ages 62+) - $7
Children (ages 6-17) - $7
Children ages 5 and under are free

No reservation available.

If you are unable to visit for a tour, you can always take a virtual mansion tour of your own!

Group tours are available for groups of 15 more more people.

Call the museum for more information.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT AIR QUALITY CLOSURES: The mansion will close for tours in the event that the air quality reaches the red zone or above (151+) according to AirNow.gov.

Media

The mansion and its history has been featured in various videos & articles. Click the links below to view them:

This Old House's Famous Historic Homes by State list (Article 2025)
'History Hunters' (Video 2022)
Washoe Life Podcast highlighting the incredible life of Eilley Bowers (2022)
What's Her Name Podcast (Episode 81) highlighting Eilley Bowers
'Saving Bowers Mansion' (Article in Nevada Magazine, Spring 2021)
'Wild Nevada' (Episode 509)
'Knowing Nevada' video (News 4)
Legendary Nevadans: Eilley Bowers of Washoe Valley (Travel Nevada)
Biography of Alison (Eilley) Oram Bowers (Nevada Women's History Project)
Bonanza - Under Attack [1995] - Portions of this TV movie were filmed at Bowers Mansion. The inside of the mansion first appears at 5:48 in the video.
Bonanza (Season 1, Episode 7) - Aired on October 24, 1959, the mansion is shown at the end of the show (46:28 in the video) as the home constructed by Annie O’Toole after striking it rich. The footage of the mansion was reused in season eight's "The Greedy Ones" as mining tycoon Shasta's estate.
1955 Episode of 'Death Valley Days' about Eilley Bowers

2025 Programs

May Nevada Living History Day

Six living history characters standing on the Bowers Mansion balcony wearing Victorian dresses.

Various exhibits and demonstrations will be happening inside and around the mansion between the hours of 11am and 3pm on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Self-guided tours will be available for $8 adults and $6 children & seniors. And, there will be a food truck on-site to serve our guests! For more information, please call 775-849-1825 or email Ranger Bret @ bhartman@washoecounty.gov For future event dates, keep an eye on our calendar of events page.

June Programs on the Porch

Program Crowd Image

This year, we are featuring Bluegrass music and we are switching to Wednesdays from 7pm to 8pm, June 4, 2025 thru June 25, 2025. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy this free* series each Spring in front of the historic Bowers Mansion. *This series is free, however donations are happily accepted for the speakers. Call the Ranger Office at 775-849-1825 for more information.

June 4, 2025 - Rough Edges
June 11, 2025 - High West Bluegrass
June 18, 2025 - Coyote Crossing
June 25, 2025 - Sage Creek

July Artown Tours

In 1946, a small group of Reno women began collecting Victorian donations from local residents who wished to restore Bowers Mansion to its original glory. The collection includes furnishings, paintings, sculptures, quilts, and other art pieces dating back to 1860. Join us for hourly tours of the Art of Bowers Mansion starting at 11AM until 3PM.

August Bowers Bluegrass Festival

Picture of Sage Creek Bluegrass performing in the formal parlor at Bowers Mansion

Nevada's Oldest and Biggest Bluegrass Festival. Friday - Sunday, August 22-24, 2025. See Northern Nevada Bluegrass Association for more information.

Coming March 2026

Bowers Mansion: The Legacy of a Comstock Family

Image of the book Bowers Mansion: The Legacy of a Comstock Family

Available for pre-sale at The University of Nevada Press.

Pet Policy

Please note that due to the historical significance, pets are not allowed at Bowers Mansion Museum with the exception of service animals.

Contact Us

Bowers Mansion Curator, Tammy Buzick, at (775) 849-0201
Bowers Mansion Regional Park - Park Ranger Office at (775) 849-1825

Directions

map with directions From Reno:
- Take I-580 south towards Carson City and take Exit 16
- Turn right (south) onto Old US Highway 395 for 1.4 miles

From Carson City:
- Take I-580 north towards Reno and take Exit 10 (Eastlake Blvd.)
- Turn left onto Eastlake Blvd. and go under freeway. Then, turn right (north) onto Old US Highway 395 for 5.6 miles