Carson City, named for the nearby Carson River, is one of four state capitols on Route 50. The river itself was named for Kit Carson by the explorer John C. Fremont.
Kit Carson (1809-1868) was a fur trapper, wilderness guide, indian agent, and army officer. His statue, shown above, is on the grounds of the Nevada government complex in Carson City. He served as Fremont’s guide on expeditions that explored much of present-day Nevada, Oregon, and California in the 1840s.
Fremont promoted Carson in his reports about those expeditions, and today we would say that as a result Carson’s reputation went viral. Soon exaggerated stories about Carson’s exploits appeared in dime novels — sensational, quickly written stories published in a cheap format.
In fact, Carson had plenty of real achievements to his credit, in addition to his accomplishments as a guide. He helped map the route of the Oregon Trail, played a role in the rescue of American soldiers during the Mexican-American war, and traveled from California to Washington D.C. to inform the government about that conflict. He was also involved in the Bear Flag revolt, which separated California from Mexico.
Today, however, his actions involving Native Americans are controversial. Accounts range from suppressing tribes and dispossessing them of their lands, to massacres and brutality by men under his command. Yet there are also reports of his efforts to reduce suffering, and he twice married into Native American communities.
None of Carson’s negatives appear on the commemorative plaques associated with the statue shown above.
