Funding for the school was obtained by Nevada's first (of two) United States Senator (1865-1875), and former California Attorney General, of William M. Stewart (1827-1909), shortly after the federal Nevada Territory (1861-1864) was admitted to the federal Union as the 36th state in 1864, during the American Civil War (1861-1865),[3] and it was named in his honor when it first opened on December 17, 1890.

Native American children from Nevada and later throughout the West were forced to attend the Stewart Institute up to secondary school age.

The initial intent of the school was to eliminate Indian language and culture from the children, to provide them with trade skills, and to make them fully American.

Wheeler-Howard Act) of 1934, passed by the United States Congress during the new presidential administration of 32nd President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945, served 1933-1945), then under the new changing philosophy and policies under the Democratic Party's more liberal and progressive attitudes with FDR's "New Deal" programs, Alida Cynthia Bowler became Director of the Carson Indian School and Reservations.

Finally almost a century later by 1980, the modern United States federal government under the presidential administration of Jimmy Carter (1924–2024, served 1977–1981), with continuing major policy and cultural attitudes changing in majority white / caucasian European American society, the Carter administration cut funding nationwide for Indian boarding schools and closed the Stewart School of Carson City campus.

Later on, children from over sixty tribal groups including Hopi, Apache, Pima, Mohave, Walapai, Ute, Pipage, Coropah and Tewa were forced to attend the school from three dozen reservations and 335 different hometowns across the West.

They worked many hard hours washing clothes, cooking, farming, and other manual labor necessary to keep the school operating.

The staff were forced to negotiate with the parents which resulted in the students receiving grades for their work and being able to keep a portion of any money earned from their labor.

Snyder was succeeded by Alida Cynthia Bowler, who was appointed Director of Carson Indian School and Reservations.

[3][7] While some students had fond memories of their time at school,[11][5] others recall being bathed in kerosene, having their heads shaved, and endured nightmares from the severe discipline they received.

The school eventually included over 63 buildings, a 10,000 gallon swimming pool and a platform for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad.

[1] The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California established the Stewart Indian Colony on the grounds of and adjacent to the former school.

A walking tour describes the former campus and relics of the school are on display at the Nevada State Museum, Carson City.

[13] The SISCCM houses the Wa-Pai-Shone Gallery, which hosts changing exhibitions of art curated by the Great Basin Native Artists collective.