Mark Twain’s time in Nevada comes alive during the 3rd Annual Mark Twain Days Festival, October 16-19, in Carson City and Virginia City.
According to Visit Carson City, born Samuel Clemens, Twain lived in Nevada from 1861 to 1864, staying with his brother, Orion Clemens, who served as secretary to Territorial Governor William Nye. Twain arrived in Carson City in August 1861, tried his hand briefly at mining in Aurora and Unionville, and eventually began writing for the Territorial Enterprise newspaper in Virginia City. It was during this period that he adopted the pen name Mark Twain.
His work included reporting on the Territorial Legislature in Carson City in 1862 and again in 1863-64. In May 1864, after writing an article that angered a rival newspaperman, Twain left for San Francisco to avoid a duel, continuing his career at the Morning Call and various magazines…