Abe Curry

Abraham Curry was one of the first, and certainly the most important settler of Eagle Valley, the site of Carson City. He arrived in the valley in 1858 from Utah and purchased the Eagle Ranch for $500 and several mustang horses.

On this property he built the Warm Springs Hotel, using the sandstone rock quarried on the site. The first Territorial Legislature met at the hotel in December 1861 and created the Board of Prison Commissioners. This Board was authorized to lease the property adjacent to Curry’s hotel effective January 1, 1862. This is the date for the establishment of what was to become the Nevada State Prison. Curry was also appointed as the first territorial warden of the prison on that date.

The Territorial Legislature subsequently authorized the purchase of the 20 acres being used as a prison, including the quarry. This purchase was to be effective on March 1, 1864.

Curry was given $80,000 in interest-bearing bonds for the property. The Territory of Nevada was admitted to the Union on October 31, 1864. The Constitution of the State established the Board Prison Commissioners, composed of the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. The Lieutenant Governor of the state was to act as the ex officio warden in order to provide him with a salary. Lieutenant Governor John Crossman thus became the warden of the institution on March 4, 1865 and remained so until January 7, 1867.

On May 1, 1867, a fire occurred at the prison resulting in a total loss of all buildings and all prison records. The buildings were rock and mortar structures, covered with dried wooden shingles. It was assumed that the inmates set fire to their shed-like housing.

In 1870, another fire occurred, and a major portion of the institution was again destroyed. This incident resulted in a construction project using quarried stone on site and inmate labor to build substantial structures.

Nevada State Prison's 1st Warden

Abe Curry

Thought by some to be the father of Carson City, Abe Curry was Nevada State Prison's 1st warden.

Future Site of Nevada State Prison

Warm Springs Hotel

Abe Curry purchased the Eagle Valley ranch in 1858. The property included 60 acres of limestone quarry.

The Warm Springs Hotel was built using that hand-hewn sandstone taken from the quarry.

Warm Springs Hotel

Facing Northeast

This photo is believed to have been taken in 1861. The territorial prison is visible in the back left.

With Nevada Statehood on October 31, 1864, Nevada State Prison was converted from a Territorial Prison to a State Prison.

The Hotel was purchased by the state on March 22, 1879 for $12,000.

Today, the Board of State Prison Commissioners remains the only agency in our state government that appears in the State's Constitution.