Visit Virginia City For A Range Of Activities

By Betty Graham


If you are looking for a location to spend a day or more with plenty of history, architecture, dining and other activities, including a steam-engine train ride, you should check out the points of interest. Visit Virginia City to see remnants of a silver mine, gold ore, mining tools, a historic Opera House built in the late 1800s and more. There are paranormal claims, historic saloons and more. Just visiting the museums will give you several days of things to see and enjoy. Though the town is a tourist center today, in its heyday it was an important rail center and industrial center.

Comstock Lode

Virginia City is located about twenty miles southeast of Reno, Nevada. It and the neighboring community of Gold Hill are linked to mining activities in the Comstock Lode. Gold ore was the first to be found, and silver ore followed. The location of silver ore was the first significant discovery in the U. S. As the mining in the Comstock Lode grew, the activities in the California Gold Rush declined. The name of this ore-rich area comes from Henry Tompkins Paige Comstock, also referred to as 'Old Pancake'. For several decades beginning in 1850, the mining claims resulted in earnings of more than half a billion dollars in silver and gold. The population grew to 25,000 one of the larger cities in the country and a top industrial hub.

Chollar Mine and Mansion

The Chollar Mine owner, Billy Chollar build an Italianate style residence and headquarters for the company. The mansion is architecturally interesting and one unique feature of the building is the arched vault of 164-square foot size where millions of dollars worth of gold and silver bullion was stored.

Add Some Museum Visits To Your Trip

Because of the number and variety of many museums in the area, visitors can find something that is of interest. Of course, mining equipment and ore is a big part of its history, but you can also see a find example of a school from 1876 at the Fourth Ward School Museum. The Firemen's Museum and the Marshall Mind are representative of careers and daily life of Virginia City residents.

Haunted Houses, Hotels and Other Structures

Although haunted houses are not everyone's cup of tea, Virginia City claims several locations where there have been reports of ghostly steps, sounds and other manifestations. If you have an interest in such events, you can choose to spend the night in some of the more common ghostly habitations. Reports of such sightings come at the Silver Queen Hotel, The Silver Terrace Cemetery, The Washoe Club and The Gold Hill Hotel and Miner's Cabin.

Influence of Art and Culture

Built in 1885, the Historic Piper's Opera House represented the venue for cultural events and musical performances for more than 150 years. It is still in operation today and is known for its historic significance, for the people who visited there and for its architecture.

People of Interest

Because of its wealth, size and location significance, Virginia City was visited by many of the day's personalities. President Grant paid a visit there, as did Mark Twain, Al Jolson and Buffalo Bill. When the television series Bonanza was on the air, many people visited the city to view its ties to the show.




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