Mormon Station State Historic Park

A hidden treasure by far, this park is absolutely beautiful!
Tucked away in the historic little town of Genoa, NV, Mormon Station Park is a really wonderful spot!
If you grew up in the area like I did you probably mostly know it for the annual Candy Dance which is a weekend long affair of great craft booths, sweet booths and all around fun!
But now that I have moved away and gotten the chance to come back I can really appreciate it for all it really is. Even without all the hustle and bustle if that annual fair this place is beautiful.
Great spot to come and walk around exploring and a great place to have a photo shoot! My fiancé and I did our engagement photos here and we could not be more happy with how great they turned out!
If youre travelling through I would definitely recommend stopping by here for a yummy lunch in the park to soak up some sun and some beautiful history!

The museum was closed but the ground were still open. It’s a very nice park like setting. We enjoyed reading all the historical signs and markers. Worth the stop.

We were staying at Stateline, Nevada and needed to travel to Gardnerville to visit a friend. Unfortunately for us, the most direct route, Highway 207, was closed for construction. We were forced to take Highway 50, crossing over to 395, and then heading south. Attempting to make the best of an unfortunate situation, we discovered the Mormon Station museum in Genoa would be right on our way.
I really didn’t have high expectations for this visit; small museum quality can vary tremendously. But this little museum is a gem, and definitely worth your time if you have an interest in California Trail pioneers making the long journey west.
The museum is in a good-​sized log cabin, with several rooms housing varied exhibits about that time. But what made the visit for us, was the personal attention and historical knowledge of the enthusiastic docents on site: Lynne and Emma. They were quite friendly and welcoming, giving us a personal tour of the high points voluntarily, and answering all questions, including about other parks and places to visit. We shared their enthusiasm by the time we were done!
This station was like an oasis to the pioneers, having barely survived crossing the 450 mile Great Basin. Here they could buy supplies, and their animals refresh themselves with the abundant vegetation, and get prepared for hurdling the last giant gauntlet: crossing the Sierras to California. Alas for the pioneers, they were captive audience, and the Mormon Station owner could charge whatever the market could bear for supplies. They had to pay 21^st century prices for some items (like bacon) in the 1850s!
The Mormon Station museum sits in a beautiful park, with large trees and nice pathways to walk, a great place to have a relaxing lunch. Sandwiches, ice cream and gifts can be found at the Janoah General Store across the street.
Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area!

This park is clean, grassy, shaded and well maintained. It would be a good place for large or small gatherings, and for historical edification.

Mormon Station State Historic Park, located along the California Emigrant Trail in Genoa, is the site of Nevada’s first permanent non-​First Nation’s settlement, established in 1851. A small log cabin museum, built in 1947, houses artifacts and displays of information from Nevada’s early days. The site was once a trading post providing supplies to weary emigrants heading to California in search of gold. Today, the park includes a museum, a stockade area with several wagons, meandering pathways, individual picnic sites, a group use pavilion, and of a statue of Snowshoe Thompson (with Gayle’s name on it among others).
As Kara V. mentions this is a very nice, comfortable, and well-​maintained park. I also like the trees, the shade, and the peace and quiet. These features are hidden during the crowds of Candy Dance, but on a typical day, you can just wander over and hang out.