(Mormon Station)

Mormon Station was the first settlement in what was the Utah territory, later to be called the Nevada territory. The first Mormon's to settle in the Carson Valley were from a group that left Salt Lake City in 1849 and came there as a result of the Gold rush to California. Their first plan was to seek their fortune in the gold fields of California. When they arrived at foot of the Sierra mountains they saw the possibilities of making a thriving community that could sell goods to the pioneers from the east on their way to the gold fields of California. This first group of Mormons build a trading post and a few shacks, but the buildings were without roofs. When winter was coming to the Sierra's, H.S. Beatie and his group left the area. The few years later a second group of Mormons came to the Carson Valley with the idea of establishing a trading post and a permanent settlement. This group was about 20 Salt Lake City businessmen, headed by a man by the name of John Reese. This group arrived at Mormon Station on July 4, 1851 and immediately set about buiding fences, plowing the ground to plant gardens, and building houses, and erected a fort As protection against Indian attacks. For a detailed account of the Mormons influnce on the settling of Nevada click on Mormon.

The town became prosperous as it became a way Station for pioneeers on the way to the Goldfields of California. Genoa became a town in 1851 Making it the oldest town site in Nevada.