Journey back in time to Virginia City, Nevada, USA
Explore the history, people, photographs, newspapers, postcards, and genealogy connected to Virginia City, Nevada, USA.
ABOUT THE PLACE
About Virginia City
Virginia City, Nevada is a historic gem nestled in the picturesque landscapes of the Silver State. This charming town is famous for its rich history, wild west atmosphere, and well-preserved 19th-century architecture.
While Samuel Clemens took the penname "Mark Twain" as a reporter working for the "Territorial Enterprise," he began his writing career as a reporter in the Midwest some years before moving to Virginia City in 1862. 50states.com
The streets in Virginia City, Nevada, were once unknowingly paved with silver ore. When the locals found out what it was, they tore up the streets in a frenzy in less than 2 days. legendsofamerica.com
Use Bing Maps to explore this place and its surroundings.
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VINTAGE VIRGINIA CITY
Virginia City Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Pioneer Stages Leaving Wells Fargo & Co.'s C. Street, Virginia City, Nevada, 1866
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
The Way It Was Museum, Virginia City, Nevada
Sutro Tunnel Company Stock
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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C.H. Clark & Co., Dealers in Groceries, Provisions, Liquors, Crockery and Tin Ware, Lime, Plaster, Hair and Cement... Agents for Pioneer Borax Company No. 186 South C Street, Virginia, Nevada
1873 ad
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad Directory, 1873-74: Embracing a General Directory of Residents of Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City, Dayton, Carson, Franktown, Washoe City and Reno, Together with a Business Directory, Also an Appendix, Giving Statistics of State and Storey, Lyno, Ormsby and Washoe Counties Front Cover H.S. Crocker & Company, 1873
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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F. Dickman, Butcher and Dealer in Groceries and Provisions, Liquors, Cigars, Tobacco... Cor. Smith and D Streets Virginia City, Nevada
1873 ad
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad Directory, 1873-74: Embracing a General Directory of Residents of Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City, Dayton, Carson, Franktown, Washoe City and Reno, Together with a Business Directory, Also an Appendix, Giving Statistics of State and Storey, Lyno, Ormsby and Washoe Counties Front Cover H.S. Crocker & Company, 1873
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Hatch Bros., Dealers in Game, Eggs, Butter, Cheese, Family Groceries and California Produce 20 C Street Between Union and Taylor Virginia, Nevada
1873 ad
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad Directory, 1873-74: Embracing a General Directory of Residents of Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City, Dayton, Carson, Franktown, Washoe City and Reno, Together with a Business Directory, Also an Appendix, Giving Statistics of State and Storey, Lyno, Ormsby and Washoe Counties Front Cover H.S. Crocker & Company, 1873
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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International Hotel, (Open day and night), Corner C, Union & B Streets, Virginia, Nevada The Best Hotel in Nevada
1873 ad
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad Directory, 1873-74: Embracing a General Directory of Residents of Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City, Dayton, Carson, Franktown, Washoe City and Reno, Together with a Business Directory, Also an Appendix, Giving Statistics of State and Storey, Lyno, Ormsby and Washoe Counties Front Cover H.S. Crocker & Company, 1873
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Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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All Kinds of Private Diseases Cured Dispensary of Dr. J. B. Lefever, of Paris, Physician, Surgeon and Accoucheur French Drug Store No. 204 Sout C Street, Virginia
All Kinds of French, English and American Medicines...
1873 ad
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad Directory, 1873-74: Embracing a General Directory of Residents of Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City, Dayton, Carson, Franktown, Washoe City and Reno, Together with a Business Directory, Also an Appendix, Giving Statistics of State and Storey, Lyno, Ormsby and Washoe Counties Front Cover H.S. Crocker & Company, 1873
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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H. Schoeneman, Importer and Dealer in Guns, Pistols, and all kinds of Ammunition, Pocket Cutlery, Fishing Tackle, and Sporting Apparatus of Every Description, 19 North C Street, Virginia, Nevada
1873 ad
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad Directory, 1873-74: Embracing a General Directory of Residents of Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City, Dayton, Carson, Franktown, Washoe City and Reno, Together with a Business Directory, Also an Appendix, Giving Statistics of State and Storey, Lyno, Ormsby and Washoe Counties Front Cover H.S. Crocker & Company, 1873
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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W. T. Warren & Son, Manufacturers of Coaches, Carriages, Sleighs, Sulkies, Trotting Wagons, Mining Cars... Dealers in all kinds of Hardwood Lumber, Coach, Carriage and Wagon Stock,
Nos. 101 and 103 North C St., Virginia, Nevada
Blacksmithing and Repairing done with neatness and dispatch. All kinds of Mining Tools made to Order.
Work Warranted Satisfactory in Every Particular
1873 ad
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad Directory, 1873-74: Embracing a General Directory of Residents of Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City, Dayton, Carson, Franktown, Washoe City and Reno, Together with a Business Directory, Also an Appendix, Giving Statistics of State and Storey, Lyno, Ormsby and Washoe Counties Front Cover H.S. Crocker & Company, 1873
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
The Way It Was Museum, Virginia City, Nevada
1876 Lighting Express Virginia City and San Francisco train schedule
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
The Way It Was Museum, Virginia City, Nevada
A. M. Cole Apothecary
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Freight Wagon, 1887
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Miners, c. 1900
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
The Way It Was Museum, Virginia City, Nevada
Hale and Norcross Mining Company
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Pogonip (Land Fog) Virginia City, Nevada
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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View of Virginia City, Nev.
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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St. Paul's Church
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Ward Shaft
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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C. Street, Va. City Nev., 1920s
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Court House
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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St. Mary's Church
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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"C" Street, 1930s
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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The Masonic Cemetery - One of the Five on the Comstock
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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C. St., 1940s
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Bucket of Blood Saloon
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Famous Old Crystal Saloon and Washoe Club
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Famous Virginia City, Nevada showing Original Sawdust Corner
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Winter Scene
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Territorial Enterprise - Home of Nevada's First Newspaper
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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Greetings from Virginia City, Nevada, 1968
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
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World Famous Camel Races
GENEALOGY SHOP
Genealogy Gifts & Finds
Discover gifts inspired by Virginia City, plus books and genealogy resources for exploring your family history.
Embrace your inner Nevadan with this charming ceramic coffee mug, perfect for anyone who proudly claims the Silver State as home. Featuring the playful caption, "I'm from Nevada. That explains a lot about my love for Lake Tahoe, where I ski in winter and tan in summer, sometimes in the same day!"—this mug is a delightful ode to those sunny slopes and snowy peaks that make Lake Tahoe a year-round paradise.
The first serious prospecting in the Virginia City- Gold Hill area occurred as early as 1850, and a mining camp existed in Gold Canyon continuously from 1851.
The story of the water supply for the Comstock: including the towns of Virginia City, Gold Hill, and Silver City, Nevada, together with other water-related events for the period 1859-1969 Front Cover Hugh A. Shamberger, Nevada. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources U.S. Geological Survey; for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1972
1855 - Comstock silver boom begins in Nevada
The World Almanac of the U.S.A, by Allan Carpenter and Carl Provorse, 1996
Founded in 1859, Virginia City quickly became world famous for its extraordinary prosperity.
"Founded in 1859, Virginia City quickly became world famous for its extraordinary prosperity. Over the next two decades, the mines of 'the Richest City on Earth' yielded millions in gold and silver. The newly wealthy built mansions and churches, opera houses and schools, with furniture, fashions, and entertainment imported from Europe and the Far East..."
A Short History of Virginia City by Ronald M. James, Susan A. James, 2014
About Virginia City
"...Virginia City became famous and has remained famous for many reasons. Probably foremost is the fact that it was the greatest producer of silver and gold high-grade ore in history. The recorded production of the Comstock district to 1957 was $393,963,725 in silver and gold, 10 the silver portion being about 58 percent of the total. This production figure was probably greatly exceeded, as there was a large unrecorded production in the early days. Another reason for Virginia City's fame is the large number of people who were associated with the development of the Comstock who later became famous ; men such as John W. Mackay, James G. Fair, Adolph Sutro, Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain), James C. Flood, W. S. O'Brien, William Sharon, D. O. Mills, and H. M. Yerington, to name only a few..."
The story of the water supply for the Comstock: including the towns of Virginia City, Gold Hill, and Silver City, Nevada, together with other water-related events for the period 1859-1969
In the fall of 1859, Virginia City had a population of between two and three hundred.
The story of the water supply for the Comstock: including the towns of Virginia City, Gold Hill, and Silver City, Nevada, together with other water-related events for the period 1859-1969 Front Cover Hugh A. Shamberger, Nevada. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources U.S. Geological Survey; for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1972
1863 - Samuel Clemens begins reporting for the Territorial Enterprise (newspaper in Virginia City). He begins using the name Mark Twain.
A Short History of Virginia City by Ronald M. James, Susan A. James, 2014
Virginia City, the commercial metropolis of Nevada, and the capital of Storey co., is situated among rocky ledges and ravines on the eastern slope of Mount Davidson, 15 miles N.N.E. of Carson City, about 200 miles in a direct line N.E. of San Francisco, and 12 miles S. of the Central Pacific Railroad. It is 6205 feet above the level of the sea, and near lat. 39° 22' N. and lon. 119° 35' W. It is a terminus of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, which connects with the Central Pacific Railroad at Reno. The principal streets are level, having been in many places graded through the solid native rock. The business streets are lined with substantial stone and brick buildings, some of which are 5 stories high. The environs are adorned with many beautiful and costly residences. The city is supplied with good light, and with spring water conveyed through the streets in pipes. It contains a court-houses, 4 churches, 2 theatres, a branch of the banking-house of Wells, Fargo & Co., several...
"Virginia City, a banking city, the capital of Storey co., Nev., is situated among rocky ledges and ravines on the eastern slope of Mount Davidson, 12 miles NE. of Carson City, on the Virginia and Truckee R. Elevation, 6205 feet. The city is well built and has a number of public buildings (court-house, Miners' Union, Library), and the environs are adorned with beautiful and costly residences. The city owes its importance to its gold and silver-mines, especially the famous Comstock Ledge (or Lode), discovered in 1859, and the Big Bonanza, or Consolidated Virginia, which were for a long time among the richest producers in the United States. It is estimated that the output from the Comstock mine has reached nearly $475,000,000. Pop. in 1870, 7048; in 1880, 10,917; in 1890, 8511; in 1900, 2695."
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities,...
Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Virginia City, Nevada:
Virginia City Historic District: Start your journey by exploring the heart of Virginia City, the historic district. Stroll along the wooden boardwalks, admire the well-preserved 19th-century buildings, and soak in the Old West ambiance.
Mark Twain Museum: Visit the Mark Twain Museum at the Territorial Enterprise building where the famous author and humorist Mark Twain worked as a journalist. You can learn about his time in Virginia City and his early writing career.
The Way It Was Museum: Discover the town's history in this excellent museum, which features artifacts, photographs, and exhibits that showcase the life and times of Virginia City during its mining boom era.
Silver Queen Hotel: Spend a night at the historic Silver Queen Hotel. Built in 1876, it's said to be haunted, adding a touch of spookiness to your stay. Even if you don't stay here, visit the Silver Queen Saloon for a drink.
Comstock Gold Mill: Learn about the town's mining heritage by taking a tour of the...