Nye, Gov. James W., Mansion

The Stewart-Nye residence was successively owned by Senator William M. Stewart and James W. Nye, Territorial Governor of Nevada. Both men were politically active lawyers from New York, Before coming to Nevada in 1859 Stewart had been active in California politics for almost ten years and served as the state's Attorney-General. Nye's political connections in the Lincoln Administration led to his appointment as Governor of the Nevada Territory in 1861.

Both are two of the most important political figures in Nevada's early history, Stewart was almost solely responsible for the establishment of Carson City as the capitol. As a member of the Territorial Council in 1861-1862 and the first constitutional Convention in 1863 he was responsible for many of the provisions of the State Constitution under which Nevada was admitted to the Union, Nye's good sense, judgement and political influence in Washington saw Nevada through some very difficult times during the Civil War and the transition to statehood in 1864. The two men became fast friends and political allies in Nevada and in December, 1864 were elected as the State's first U.S. Senators.

The Stewart-Nye residence was constructed in the fall of 1860 on a large lot bounded by Minnesota, King and Phillips Streets. Mrs. Annie Foote Stewart was much given to entertaining and their home became a center for parties, meetings and social events of all kinds. After the purchase of the home by Governor Nye in 1862, it became the first Governor's Mansion, albeit unofficial, and a gathering place for political figures.
Stewart served with considerable distinction in the Senate. Stewart is known as the author of the Fifteenth Amendment and the National Mining Law of 1866. In the latter part of his career he became a prominent spokesman for those seeking the re-monetization of silver. Both men were strong supporters of President Lincoln and the later Reconstruction policies of Congress.

Nye died in December of 1876, three years after he lost a bid for a third term in the Senate, and the house passed to his two surviving children, Mrs. John Waller and Charles Mason Nye, who sold it in 1882. Chief Justice George F. Talbot lived here for some years and in 1917 it passed to the Roman Catholic Church and is today the rectory for St. Teresa of Avila Church, located across King Street.