Immerse Yourself Where History Was Made In Virginia City, Nevada

Virginia City, Nevada, is home to the largest silver ore discovery in the history of the world, the Comstock Lode.

This mining boomtown burst to life in 1859 when Comstockers struck it rich, causing the town to quickly become one of the largest and most significant industrial cities in the west. Today, Virginia City offers travelers and adventure-seekers yearning to get out and experience this history for themselves several opportunities to immerse themselves in the rich history of the Comstock.

Here are seven ways visitors can get a hands-on experience of Virginia City’s rich history.

1. Sit in a Desk at The Fourth Ward School

The Historic Fourth Ward School Museum and Archives is a striking architectural feature in the Virginia City skyline. Built in 1876, the four-story wooden school building is the last of its kind still standing, and at the time of its erection was a state-of-the-art facility with flushing toilets, drinking fountains, and central heat. Built to accommodate more than 1,000 students, the sixteen classrooms retain their original patina, desks, maps, and books.

Today’s visitors can experience what it was like to sit at the original school desks when they explore the museum, including several rooms detailing the history of the town, a rotating display, and a room dedicated to Mark Twain. Learn more at FourthWardSchool.org.

2. Go Beneath the Surface in a Mine Shaft

While Virginia City has well more than 3,000 miles of mine shafts below its surface, just two mines are still open and offering tours for visitors. The Best & Belcher Mine, located inside what today is the Ponderosa Saloon, offers a relatively short jaunt into the famous mine with a highly educational guided tour. Those looking for a little more adventure will enjoy the 450-foot walk deep into the mountainside at the Chollar Mine, located off F Street.

This mine was one of the most profitable mines on the Comstock, producing more than $17 million in gold and silver ore. Tours of the Chollar Mine reveal the original square-set timbering, silver ore, rock drills, as well as displays of old equipment.

3. Pull Up a Stool at Mark Twain’s Favorite Bar

Mark Twain came to Virginia City as Samuel Clemens to try his luck as a miner. That didn’t pan out for him, but he did happen across a job at the local newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise. This is where he discovered his penchant for writing, and the pen name Mark Twain was born.

Twain was known to head to the Gold Hill Saloon, located at the Gold Hill Hotel, after work to sip a drink and ponder his stories. Visitors today can pull up a stool at the very same spot. Maybe it’s a cure for writer’s block.

4. Stand On Stage at Piper’s Opera House

The wealth of Virginia City brought some of the world’s most sought-after entertainers and stars of the day, and they performed at Piper’s Opera House. Originally built in 1863 as Maguire’s Opera House, acts like Lily Langtry, Edwin Booth, Lillian Russell, Mark Twain, and even Buffalo Bill performed his famous Wild West show there. These famed stars of the past all stood on the stage, and today visitors can stand in that very same spot.

Guided tours are available where guests can see the old guestbook with signatures dating back to the early days on the Comstock. Better yet, attend a play or performance at Piper’s Opera House and live that lux Victorian lifestyle.

5. Test Your Skills at a Shooting Gallery

A mining town, yes, but Virginia City was still the Old West. Guns were a part of life and knowing how to use them was a must. Visitors can test their skills at the Sawdust Trails Shooting Gallery, located at 164 South C Street. Especially popular with the kids, this family-fun activity is a great way to test marksmanship. For just $2, get a round of 20 and aim for marks in a setting straight out of the old west.

6. Ride The Virginia & Truckee Railroad

The historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad was Virginia City’s primary mode of transportation for not only people and goods but silver ore. The train ran 40 runs per day, transporting 40,000 tons of silver ore to Carson City and beyond for processing each month. Famous dignitaries like President Grant and other foreign dignitaries also rode the rails of the V&T.

Travelers today can ride the same rails in passenger cars dating back to the late 1800s. The 35-minute round-trip train ride takes passengers to the Gold Hill Depot and back to Virginia City with a narrated tour along the way.

7. Visit the Cemetery

The Silver Terrace Cemetery is one of the most-visited places in Virginia City. Very few of the adults buried in these cemeteries were born in Nevada. The birthplaces noted throughout the grounds provide a glimpse of the scope of immigration and the makeup of the settlement that supported the Comstock mining industry.

Visitors are encouraged to visit this historically significant location to see the carefully preserved Victorian burial places. The cemetery continues to be restored by a “Save America’s Treasures” grant through the National Park Service. Self-guided and remote tours are brought to life with the Cemetery Audio Tour.

Today’s Virginia City is a quaint and welcoming historic mountain town holding true to its roots and honoring its history. Visitors from around the world are welcomed to come live a day in the life of a miner and experience the history for themselves. Virginia City has been carefully, proudly, and authentically preserved so visitors can step back in time.

For more information on Virginia City, Nevada, including overnight stays, go to visitvirginiacitynv.com or call the Virginia City Visitors Center at 775-847-4500.