Amity Lodge No. 4 Added to Nevada State Register of Historic Places

Submitted by Amity Lodge No. 4 Junior Warden & Historian Audie Robinson

Silver City’s historic Main Street gained a new mark of distinction this summer as Amity Lodge No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons, was officially added to the Nevada State Register of Historic Places on Jun. 18, 2025, under listing number #250164, recognizing more than 150 years of cultural and architectural significance.

Built in 1867, the two-story wooden structure stands among the earliest surviving fraternal lodge halls in Nevada. From the bustling years of the Comstock boom through the quieter decades that followed, the building has remained a landmark in Silver City—its modest façade a lasting emblem of the community spirit that helped shape early Nevada.

Amity Lodge was originally chartered under the Grand Lodge of California in 1863 as Silver City Lodge No. 163, and re-chartered under the newly formed Grand Lodge of Nevada in 1864 as Amity Lodge No. 4. It is the second-oldest continuously chartered Masonic lodge in Nevada, following Carson Lodge No. 1 in Carson City. Throughout its long history, the building has served not only as a meeting place for Masons but also as a venue for civic events, dances, and
community gatherings.

The lodge retains much of its original structure and layout, including the distinctive second-floor meeting room, still arranged much as it would have been in the 19th century, with symbolic furnishings, portraits, and architectural details that evoke the early Masonic era. Recent preservation efforts have stabilized the roof, reinforced attic framing, and improved drainage to protect the foundation.

The successful nomination to the State Register was supported by newly compiled historical documentation and preservation records assembled by lodge historian Audie Robinson, whose ongoing archival project has cataloged the organization’s records dating back to the 1860s.

“This listing recognizes not only the architecture of the building but the people and traditions that have kept it active for over a century and a half,” Robinson said.

Fraternal lodges like Amity were instrumental in the civic and social development of early Nevada mining communities.

“They provided stability, brotherhood, and public service during a period of great change,” Robinson added. “Amity Lodge embodies that history.”

The Nevada State Register of Historic Places, administered by the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), recognizes properties that contribute to the state’s historical and cultural heritage. While inclusion in the Register does not restrict ownership or use, it acknowledges the site’s importance and may make it eligible for certain preservation incentives and grant opportunities.

Amity Lodge No. 4 meets on the first Thursday of each month at 175 Main Street in Silver City. A community dinner open to the public begins at 6 p.m., followed by the lodge meeting for members at 7 p.m. Visitors are welcome to attend dinner and learn more about the lodge’s history and preservation efforts.

For more information or to arrange a visit, contact Amity Lodge No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons. Visit https://shpo.nv.gov/services/srhp to view the Nevada State Register of Historic Places.