"An authentic boomtown" Top 5 Page for this destination Virginia City by zrim

Virginia City Travel Guide: 48 reviews and 94 photos

buildings from the wild west era - Virginia City

Even on the eve of the Civil War Americans turned their thoughts to get rich schemes. After the California gold rush in the 1840s that usually meant mining (gold, silver, copper and even lead). In 1859 the motherlode (the Comstock lode) was discovered in Six-Mile Canyon in the high desert of Nevada. Overnight Virginia City was incorporated in Storey County, Nevada and before the silver rush ended the town boasted that it had over 33,000 inhabitants including one fellow who would become quite famous in his own right, Mark Twain.

Last visit to Virginia City: May 2004
Intro Updated May 18, 2004
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Reviews (7)

nasty, brutish and short - Virginia City

For many it was a true Hobbesian... Things to Do (5)

Thomas Hobbes, in Leviathan wrote. 'No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and... more travel advice

St. Mary's in the Mountains - Virginia City

St. Mary's in the Mountains Things to Do (5)

This striking Catholic church is the landmark that anchors the northern end of Virginia City. It was built in 1876 (once... more travel advice

The Opera House Things to Do (5)

This restored building is actually the third reincarnation of Piper's Opera House. The first was built in 1862 and... more travel advice

Second Empire architectural style 4th Ward School - Virginia City

The Fourth Ward School Building Things to Do (5)

Designed to accomodate over 1,000 students, the Fourth Ward School Building is the most prominent building on the south... more travel advice

Warnings and Dangers (1)
Odd sense of humor

Nightlife (1)
One of the few of the hundred and ten...

Comments (7)

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Easty Jan 11, 2005 at 8:07 PM

Virginia City is vintage old west. Great information on Virginia City.
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roamer61 Jun 18, 2004 at 11:39 AM

Nice site on a historic town.
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shrimp56 Jun 10, 2004 at 7:06 AM

Only a Carl would quote Thomas Hobbes on a page set in the desert :))) Fun page!
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Bwana_Brown Jun 6, 2004 at 8:05 AM

A very enjoyable and informative page on this old Western town! Great photos of the buildings and it looks like you had great weather. That graveyard probably has many a tale to tell !
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globetrott Jun 3, 2004 at 8:47 PM

what a nice place with great architecture, although I have to admit, I prefer the architecture of Vienna's opera....
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Dumpymotel Jun 1, 2004 at 8:10 AM

That Fourth Ward building looks like a haunted house....
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matcrazy1 May 19, 2004 at 2:09 PM

I like: "Beware of Attack Wife" :-)))