Townsite House

This “Townsite” House is one of the 1000 built by the U.S. Government as housing for employees of Basic Magnesium Inc., Henderson, 1941.

Located at the Clark County Museum at 1830 South Boulder Highway in Henderson, Nevada, the Townsite house was previously located at 302 West Basic Road in Henderson. It was moved in 1982 and opened in 1985.

Restored Time Period: 1940s
Built: 1942

In 1941, a magnesium processing plant was built on vacant land between Las Vegas and Boulder City. In 1942, to house the workers of B.M.I., a Townsite was built that included 297 three-bedroom homes and 703 two-bedroom homes. This house is one of the three-bedroom homes.

The houses were considered to be temporary at the time they were built. The exterior is of redwood siding. The interior walls are made of 1/4″ plywood with batten strips covering the seams. The windows are situated to provide cross ventilation and a six-sided swamp cooler provided comfort during hot weather.

Besides housing, the Townsite also had stores, schools, two churches, a library, theater, hospital, and bowling alley. On January 1, 1944, a Post Office was completed and the Townsite officially became Henderson. It was named in honor of Charles B. Henderson, a Nevada attorney and U.S. Senator.

Due to the development of a small apartment complex, this house was donated to the museum. Parts from other Townsite houses helped complete the renovation of this home.