Virginia City Travel Guide

No place defines the old west like Virginia City.  In the old days, a huge silver deposit known as the Comstock Lode brought thousands to this hillside east of Carson City, even Mark Twain himself spent considerable time here.  Once considered more civilized than any other place in the west (including San Francisco), the mines of Virginia City financed a good portion of the Civil War and subsequent boom years.  Railroads were built to take out the silver and bring in provisions.  Unfortunately, when silver lost favor to gold, Virginia City lost its main source of income. 

Today the town is home to only a few hundred, but many of the old buildings have been restored and it is now a tourist attraction.  From wooden-plank sidewalks to candy stores, it is a great place to spend an afternoon with the kids. Venture beyond the main street to escape the commercialization, and you'll find museums and the new History Center that houses a beautifully restored locomotive that moved the ore to the mills on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. Take a ride on the V&T down to Gold Hill, another small mining town. Currently the path of the V&T is being recreated and soon visitors will be able to catch the train in Carson City and ride it through some of the most productive mining landscape in the world.

Before coming to Virginia City, be sure to watch an episode or two of Bonanza.  The 60s drama was set near old Virginia City. In fact, if it hadn't been for the Bonanza TV program, Virginia City may have continued to decay. The interest created brought tourists and started a movement to preserve what was left of a thriving cultural center. The interest led to the designation of the entire city as a National Historical Monument.

Today you'll find exciting and unique events throughout the year. Four of the most historic sites, the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum, Pipers Opera House, the Comstock Cemetery, and St. Mary's Art Center have banded together to create experiences for families that bring back the days of old and provide insights into the "real" early Nevada. Visit the official web site, www.virginiacity-nv.org for more information.